First fatal wolf-train collision disrupted Dutch rail traffic
Dutch train traffic was disrupted this week by animal collisions, including the country’s first reported fatal wolf-train incident, De Telegraaf reported. ProRail records 1,700 to 1,800 such incidents each year, causing 28,000 to 32,000 minutes of delays.
“Our tracks run through nature and rural areas where wolves are present, and we have received a first report of a collision with such a predator,” ProRail spokesperson Sofie van den Broek told De Telegraaf about the wolf-train collision. She declined to disclose the location.
Other animal incidents involve badgers, deer, horses, and pets. “Last Tuesday near Oisterwijk, a dog ran onto the tracks and was struck by a train. The animal did not survive, and train services were halted for hours. It is terrible for the animal and the owner,” Van den Broek added.
Collisions with large animals can damage trains, tracks, or technical equipment, and each incident requires checking that no human was involved, adding further delays. Two-thirds of reports do not affect schedules, but one-third can halt traffic for minutes to hours.
Swans can get trapped on tracks or in overhead wires, and beavers can create hazards with lodges under or near tracks. Recently, three stork families caused delays near Hoogeveen while the track bed was reinforced to prevent subsidence. Proper fencing can prevent many livestock incidents.
ProRail urges pet owners to keep animals leashed near tracks. “A moment of inattention can have serious consequences,” Van den Broek said.
