One of the two goods trains involved in the fatal crash near Barendrecht two weeks ago ignored a red light and this was the most important cause of the accident, transport minister Camiel Eurlings told MPs on Wednesday.

The driver of the train who ignored the red light was killed in the crash. The signal was fitted with the back-up protection system known as ATB, which sets off an automatic braking system if drivers ignore red lights, Eurlings said. It did not work in this case because the train was travelling below 40 kph.
An improved system has been fitted to some 1,250 railway signals nationwide but 4,750 of the older ones are still in use. Rail safety experts have urged the transport ministry to replace them with the improved version.
Eurlings will debate the crash and rail safety issues with MPs later today.