Train service across much of the Netherlands was disrupted after metal pipes were placed on the tracks. The rail operator suspects sabotage.
Train service has been severely disrupted across much of the Netherlands. Rail infrastructure operator ProRail suspects sabotage, NOS reports.
ProRail said it learned of the problems at about 5:30 a.m. on September 15. Signaling and safety systems malfunctioned at at least 30 locations, making it impossible to determine whether a train was on a particular section of track. Because trains could not operate safely under those conditions, the signals turned red.
According to ProRail, the disruption was caused by metal pipes that someone had attached to or placed on the tracks.
Service was disrupted mainly on routes connecting Utrecht with the northern and eastern parts of the country, but the effects were felt nationwide, ProRail said. Trains are still running on some routes, but at very low speeds.
The disruption could also affect road traffic. If the safety system determines — correctly or mistakenly — that a train is approaching a railroad crossing, the barriers come down.
It is unclear when train service will be restored. “We know which sections of track are affected, but not exactly where the problems are. So we have to walk the entire stretch of track to find and fix the problem,” ProRail said. The company referred questions about who might be behind the suspected sabotage to the police.
The disruption occurred on Prince’s Day, NOS reports. During the annual event, the king of the Netherlands visits parliament and delivers the Speech from the Throne. Prince’s Day is held in The Hague on the third Tuesday of September, which fell on September 15 this year. The BBC notes that the event is often accompanied by protests by various activist groups. It remains unclear, however, whether the disruption was directly connected to the event.
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