Prepare for Fewer Trains and Increased Delays in the Coming Six Months

In the upcoming six months, passengers should brace themselves for significant disruptions in train services. The Dutch Railways (NS) and ProRail have announced that ongoing challenges will lead to fewer trains running and more frequent delays. The problems are mainly due to extensive maintenance and upgrades planned across several key routes, including the areas around Rotterdam, Schiphol, and the Tilburg-Boxtel line.

During a recent press conference, NS CEO Wouter Koolmees and ProRail CEO John Voppen reflected on the past six months’ performance and looked ahead at what passengers can expect in the near future. Unfortunately, the outlook suggests that the difficulties experienced over the past half-year, with trains frequently failing to run on time, are likely to continue.

Several major projects are set to take place, which will impact train services significantly. These projects include vital maintenance and renewal works that are necessary to ensure the long-term safety and efficiency of the rail network. However, these works will temporarily reduce the capacity on the tracks, leading to fewer trains and more crowded conditions.

In addition to the planned maintenance, unresolved issues on the High-Speed Line (HSL) are also contributing to the expected disruptions. Construction errors made during the building of rail viaducts have led to structural weaknesses, meaning trains can only travel at 80 kilometers per hour over certain sections, instead of the intended 300 kilometers per hour. This speed restriction has severely impacted the train schedule, especially on the Rotterdam-Amsterdam route, where less than 60% of trains arrive on time.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys carefully over the coming months, allowing extra time for potential delays and considering alternative modes of transportation where possible. NS and ProRail are working to minimize the impact on travelers, but some level of inconvenience is unavoidable.