A large whale sculpture has stopped a train from crashing into the ground after it broke through a barrier at a Dutch station.
The train crashed through the station barrier at 12.30am on Monday at De Akkers metro station in the city of Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam. It remains suspended 32ft above a footpath after it landed precariously on a whale’s tail structure.
There were no passengers on board the train when it crashed.
Although the train driver was shaken up by the crash he was unharmed and was able to leave the train himself, reports local media.
Fortunately no passengers were on board the train when it crashed
APHe has been taken to a local hospital to be checked over as a precaution.
Firefighters and emergency services are at the scene of the crash as they attempt to work out how to remove the train which is likely to remain on the whale structure for some time.
Pictures show how the train broke through a barrier at a Dutch station near Rotterdam
ANP/AFP via Getty ImagesPictures showed how the undercarriage of the metro was damaged after it rammed through an elevated section of rails and came to rest on the art work.
“We are trying to decide how we can bring the train down in a careful and controlled manner,” a local safety board spokesman told broadcaster NOS.
Artful death dodger. Police and fire crews surround scene trying to establish how to release the metro #spijkenisse pic.twitter.com/I36qpxIVK2
— anna holligan 🎙 (@annaholligan) November 2, 2020
The “Whale Tails” sculpture was created by Dutch architect Maarten Struijs. It is made of polyester and was installed at the end of the metro tracks in 2002.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
