Alarms in Schipholtunnel

The Dutch Railway, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), and the railway administrator ProRail are investigating the possibility of measuring heat in the Schipholtunnel. This should prevent the now regular interruptions in rail traffic caused by smoke detection alarms.

The new camera system can quickly check if there is a fire in the tunnel, or if a smoke alarm was set off by windblown dust caused by construction work or by smoke from braking trains.

According to the research office involved in the investigation, the tunnel is safe, but smoke detection alarms have increased since early last year. In one week in November, for example, train traffic was shut stopped three times.

NOS.nl reports that in two months the investigation should conclude if the new system is reliable enough.