I don't understand why the commuter didn't trip the emergency stop after passing the red light. If it was indeed human error, the safety mechanism should have prevented the train from continuing on the wrong track, right?

By Piotr | April 23, 2012 9:04 AM

Anyone can make a mistake, what I cannot understand is that apparently no backup system for this type of human error has been developed and implemented. This is not about being 'sufficient' and scoring a 6 out of 10 - its about developing systems - including backups - that ensure public safety almost at 100%. This 'systems' should be in place in health care, child care and public transport - just to name a few areas that it is obvious that they are not in place here in NL. I'm sure there are plenty more examples. I hope we do not read about these 'other examples' in the NL news anytime soon.

By Bill | April 23, 2012 9:20 AM

@piotr: you are right, if trains with more than certain speed are travelling on the same track, often power is shut off or some other emergency mechanism should have kicked in.

By dork | April 23, 2012 10:20 AM

Seems very similar to the Paddington train crash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladbroke_Grove_rail_crash)

There in the UK after this fatal incident they introduced a back-up system, where the signal operator can remotely stop trains in case of emergency. This could be a good idea for Holland as well.

By Las | April 23, 2012 11:02 AM

Having been to Holland many times and enjoyed great hospitality from the Dutch this news is very distressing.

A modern train control system will apply an automatic brake or electrical shut down or both if a red light is passed.

Computerized track control can do this and it is very expensive but is already developed for many subway systems and could be fitted to the to the Rail Pro track.

I hope a very painful lesson is learned here and Rail Pro will upgrade signal control systems at once.

My heart goes out to all.

By Lee From Florida | April 23, 2012 2:08 PM

There is a backup system. However, the tracks where the accident happened were undergoing maintenance (the yellow line on NS maps) and maybe the system didn't work as it should.

What is really needed is ETCS, a protocol that relies on radio and computer to read ALL signs and instructions for a train, not on a human driver to spot signs.

By Andre L. | April 23, 2012 2:30 PM

Las, it is not possible and never has been that the signalman can remotely stop the train, he can only send a signal, via secure cab radios, to all trains in the area to stop, which is displayed 'EMERGENCY STOP' on the drivers cab radios. It is then down to the train driver to act on that.

By fortuner | April 23, 2012 3:22 PM

Is there really no back-up or did it fail, too?

There is no technical challenge to having a back-up system when a driver misses a red, and as I understand it systems like this are installed in many railways all around the world.

So then the issue is political/budgetary.

By Todd Edelman | April 23, 2012 4:03 PM

I never will ride in the front or back train cars and this confirms why. In 2012 having a crash because someone missed a signal is not an excuse. Lights should flash and alarms should sound if a train passes a red light. Oops is not an adequate response. Heads should roll.

By richard | April 23, 2012 4:31 PM

It’s called a “Dead-Man Switch”. It automatically brings the train to a safe stop if the Engineer (Driver) goes above a certain speed, misses a predefined audio / visual reaction cue from the train alerting system or passes a red stop signal.

Almost every train in the world utilizes this system. It is obvious these two trains were too close to each other. This would explain the reaction time for the “safe stop” distance of the automatic safety systems to take effect.

A Engineer (Driver) cannot bypass the safety systems. So a logical explanation would be the traffic flow was allowed to “share” too much room between the signals not allowing for a traffic safety margin.

By JAG | April 23, 2012 5:12 PM

The Dutch do have a good safety system, but as tends to be with everything, there are flaws, human and otherwise, especially in combination with older systems, other railway lines and when there are engineering works going on that may disable the safety for periods of time...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatische_treinbe%C3%AFnvloeding

As previously mentioned, there needs to be implemented a standard called ETCS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Train_Control_System

By fortuner | April 23, 2012 5:22 PM

Automated systems also fail - especially when work is being done on the system-- the driver is the final defense against system failures.
With air and road transport the pilot/driver runs on visual control. Ancient mechanical systems on subways work well. Most air accidents happen near airport where pilot has visual control.

By enriqueNA | April 24, 2012 2:53 AM

Wait for the inquiry - the trains have recorders. The driver may have only _thought_ that she must have passed a red light when she saw the oncoming train. It's all recorded. Will take some time to analyze.

By enriqueNA | April 24, 2012 3:15 AM

To Lee From Florida:

You experienced great hospitality from the Dutch because you were on holiday, i.e. as a tourist. Should you'd been as a immigrant worker, the hospitality wouldn't've been the same, trust me.

About that accident, well, does not surprise me at all, especially because I live in The Netherlands for years, and I am from a much more developed country in infraestructure and social/human rights (Spain). In winter snow is quite common in these latitudes but whenever happens, trains stop working, year after year. Relaying traficking on human decisions is something overtaken in more developed countries. It is what it is, actually.

By Lorealista | April 24, 2012 8:15 AM

I'm a Train Driver in South Australis (married a Dutch). I work in a profession which requires 100% perfection 100% of the time, obviously the consequences of anything less can be disasterous. Lets be real and be honest - have you in your job performed every task in complete perfection, not making one error at all? It is impossible! A collegue of mine is currently stood down because he recently passed a red signal. In the previous year he passed over 26,000 signals in accordance with their indication. This time he missed one. The percentage of success in his role is over 99.9975%. Show me a manager or politician with that success! Don't blame the Driver, better systems are required.

By Allan Bower | April 24, 2012 11:22 AM

Well said Allan Bower. I too was a train driver, in the UK for 23 years and I too made mistakes. Thankfully, they weren't major but when you're driving up and down the same line numerous times per day, fatigue & boredom can set in very easily. Train drivers are human beings not robots. No train driver in their right mind passes a red signal on purpose. That's why there should be a few back-up systems in place to prevent these sorts of incidents happening in the first place. All the good ideas come out after the dust has settled but unfortunately, money is always the major problem and the reason why they will keep happening.

By fortuner | April 24, 2012 11:18 PM

To Lorealista

In Amsterdam I do not let anyone call me a tourist.

A visitor yes.

I have made many friends and we see each other year after year .

What you don't seem to understand is Europe is divided on blood lines and one should understand this and approach it with humility.

I come from a nation of immigrants , two of my Grandparents were from Europe.

All immigrants pay a price in the USA or Europe , it is human nature.
Don't ask for acceptance , give respect and you will find respect.

The Netherlands is a small country so naturally they are protective of what they have.

The Dutch are good people .

By Lee From Florida | April 25, 2012 11:55 AM