Rotterdam metro crash
On 2 November 2020, an empty train of the Rotterdam Metro overran a buffer stop just after midnight near De Akkers station in Spijkenisse, Netherlands. The metro was driving to the dead-end siding located after the station, but was unable to stop in time before crashing into the buffers. The train came to a stop on top of a whale sculpture at the end of the tracks, which prevented it from falling 10 metres (33 ft) into the ditch below. The driver was the only person present on the train and escaped without injury. The accident was investigated by the operator, Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (RET), itself under the supervision of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate. The investigation found that the speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) was too high for use as a siding and differed from the other sidings of the network. While the driver was not going too fast, two automatic systems intervened before he started manually braking. Due to drizzle, the track was slippery at the time, causing the wheels to slide before the train impacted the buffers at 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph). The speed limit at the siding was reduced following the accident, with the crash causing around €1 million in damage. Images of the metro hanging on top of the whale sculpture went viral and garnered international media coverage. Five years after the crash in 2025, the local municipality of Nissewaard proposed to commemorate the accident with an additional artwork on the site.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Rotterdam metro crash (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).Rotterdam metro crash
Componistenpad, Nissewaard
Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places Show on map
Geographical coordinates (GPS)
| Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|
| N 51.8322 ° | E 4.312 ° |
Address
Componistenpad
Componistenpad
3208 CK Nissewaard
South Holland, Netherlands
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