Netherlands train accident: several ‘seriously injured’ as carriage hits construction equipment

At least 30 people were injured after a passenger train derailed in the Netherlands, Dutch emergency services said.

The train was carrying at least 50 people when it hit construction equipment on the track in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving a number of people “seriously injured”.

“Several dozen injured people are being treated at the spot and taken to hospital if necessary,” emergency services said, adding that “specialists are working to secure the train.”

The front carriage of the passenger train derailed and ploughed into a field after the accident. Images posted to social media showed a carriage on its side as rescue workers tried to gain access. A fire broke out in at least one of the carriages, ANP news agency reported.

Rescuers worked through the night at the scene of the accident near Voorschoten, a village between The Hague and Leiden city, a notice from the emergency services said.

Dutch Railways (NS) said in a tweet that trains between Leiden and parts of The Hague were cancelled due to the accident.