Parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, have been hit by major rail disruption after suspected sabotage to the tracks, the country’s railway infrastructure operator has said.
ProRail warned that passengers in the country’s centre and north should expect cancellations and delays on Tuesday, while the closure of some level crossings could cause disruption to roads.
Pipes and cables were placed on the tracks in multiple locations, according to local media. In a statement, ProRail said the incident appeared to be “an intentional disruption… caused by human action”.
It added that no suspects or motives had been identified. Police said a criminal investigation had been launched.
“Objects were found on railway tracks at several locations across the country, causing major disruption to rail traffic,” Dutch police said in a statement.
Routes to the main international airport, Schiphol, Eindhoven and Utrecht were among those affected on Tuesday, with the network saying that 30 disruptions had been reported across the country.
Train operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen said services around Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoot had been disrupted.
It added that the disruption was so extensive it was “not possible” to provide a bus replacement service.
In an update on Tuesday afternoon it said train service was gradually resuming but with some delays and cancellations.
A Eurostar train from Amsterdam to Paris was earlier delayed due to “operational restrictions” at Amsterdam Centraal, but the company said it was not impacted by the wider disruption in the Netherlands.
ProRail said in a statement: “Materials were found at multiple locations in the track that were deliberately placed there. This causes section malfunctions. Sabotage appears to be involved”.
In an update at lunchtime on Tuesday, Netherlands Police said officers remained at impacted sites and were in close contact with ProRail to ensure train lines were “reopened for use as quickly as possible”.
