Cement block thrown on train tracks could've caused "life-threatening" derailment

ProRail and NS are going to report the incident of a large block being thrown onto the rails near the station Heerenveen IJsstadion on Tuesday night to the authorities. The train organizations called this a “life-threatening incident.” An incoming train hit the concrete block at full speed and dragged it to the Heerenveen station at around 11:30 p.m.

None of the passengers inside were injured. A photo published by ProRail shows that it was a heavy block to support fencing.

Police showed up to the scene after the incident and searched two young men who were near the section of track by Heerenveen IJsstadion. The two have not been arrested yet, but they are a part of the investigation, said a police spokesperson.

The spokesperson could not say anything about any extra security measures by the track in Friesland. The police are currently in close contact with ProRail, the railroad infrastructure manager.

That company also pointed out that there have been several other incidents near the track in Heerenveen. Bricks, a chair, and other items were also thrown onto the track at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. These items were removed, but this was then followed by the concrete block being thrown on an hour later.

A spokesperson for the rail management company explained that the issue of things being thrown onto the tracks is a problem that is occurring throughout the country but that "something is really going on" in Heerenveen.

He also explained that there is a risk of a train derailing with such a “bizarrely” big block being thrown onto the tracks, like what occurred on Tuesday evening.

ProRail CEO John Voppen said he was “astonished.” He wondered what went through the culprit’s mind to do something like this.

“This could have ended very differently. Dangerous and forbidden! And what a huge shock this will have been for the driver, train crew, and passengers. We are on top of this with the police and want to tackle the culprits. This cannot remain unpunished. Unbelievable!” he said on ProRail’s website.