The whale's tail of a sculpture caught the front carriage of a metro train as it rammed through the end of an elevated section of rails with the driver escaping injuries in Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, Netherlands, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
This really was a fluke.
The driver of a metro train escaped injury when the front carriage rammed through the end of an elevated section of rails and was caught by a sculpture of a whale's tail near the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
The train was left perched upon one of two tail fins known as “flukes” several meters (yards) above the ground.
It created such a stir locally that authorities urged sightseers to stay away, adding that coronavirus restrictions were in force.
Even so, some 50 people were at the scene late Monday morning as engineers tried to work out how to stabilize and then remove the train amid strengthening winds.
“A team of experts is investigating how we can make it safe and get it down,” Carly Gorter, a spokeswoman for the local security authority, said in a telephone interview.
“It's tricky,” she added.
The authority said late Monday that a crane would attempt to lift the train off the whale Tuesday morning.
The architect who designed the sculpture, Maarten Struijs, told Dutch broadcaster RTL he was pleased that it likely saved the life of the driver.
“I'm surprised it's so strong,” he said. “If plastic has been standing for 20 years, you don't expect it to hold a metro carriage.”
The company that operates the metro line said the driver was uninjured and there were no passengers on the train when it crashed through stop barriers at the end of the station in the town of Spijkenisse, on the southern edge of Rotterdam, early Monday morning. The station is the final stop on the metro line.
Authorities launched an investigation into how the train could plow through the barrier at the end of the rail tracks. The driver was being interviewed as part of the probe, the Rijnmondveilig security authority said.
Partha Unnava, Founder and CEO and Lasso, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how the design behind these compression socks can prevent injuries and improve performance.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Vision Marine Technologies CEO discusses how e-boats will play a role in the fight against the climate crisis; Lasso CEO breaks down how the design behind these compression socks can prevent injuries and improve performance; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Tombs Of Egypt.'
Catriona Campbell, CTIO, UK and Ireland, EY, joins Cheddar News to discuss how business leaders can bridge the gap between their technology investments and their aspirations, and breaks down the human aspects of A.I.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Ukraine in attempts to escape the Russian Invasion. According to the U.N. neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary, and even Romania have seen half a million refugees. While the hospitality is being welcomed by many, it also highlights the mistreatment of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Professor of Philosophy and Director of Politics at Northeastern University Serena Parekh, joined Cheddar, to discuss more.
New York's MTA unveiled a new plan to boost the safety for the Big Apple's public transit system to go into effect on the heels of a violent weekend on the subways. The six separate attacks follow a rise of 60 percent in violent subway crimes year to date. The plan will attempt to address the surge in violence, as well as separately offer services to the homeless found within the system, according to the transportation authority. Cheddar's Chloe Aiello explains.
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, Kim Severson, National Food Correspondent, The New York Times, dives into some of the top trends in the food industry for the upcoming year; Renowned Harlem chef & restaurateur Melba Wilson discusses her inspirations and rise in the food industry, and giving back to her community through food; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'The History of Food.'
Kim Severson, National Food Correspondent, The New York Times, joins Cheddar Reveals to dive into some of the top trends in the food industry for the upcoming year.
Renowned Harlem chef & restaurateur Melba Wilson joins Cheddar to discuss her inspirations and rise in the food industry, and giving back to her community through food.
