Hundreds of train passengers evacuated after overhead line snaps

By Janene Pieters on October 17, 2019 - 12:46
Broken overhead line near the Almere Oostvaarders station on 21 May 2019
Broken overhead line near the Almere Oostvaarders station on 21 May 2019Photo: ProRail/Twitter

Damaged overhead lines between Hoofddorp and Leiden left three trains stranded on Thursday, ProRail reported. Around 1,400 passengers were evacuated. The stranded trains are currently being towed away.

"The contractor is currently inspecting the damage", ProRail said. "How long the repairs will take is not yet known." No trains are currently running between Hoofddorp and Leiden. "ProRail regrets the inconvenience for all travelers on this route."

Rail passengers were told they should plan for an extra hour when traveling between Amsterdam, Schiphol, and Leiden, or between Leiden, Duivendrecht and Lelystad.

Separate troubles meant passengers trying to reach Schiphol from Den Haag Centraal also needed to account for an extra hour by first stopping at Utrecht.

Overcrowding was also reported on the high speed route connecting Schiphol with Rotterdam, possibly adding to delays in the region. ProRail and the NS expected all issues to be resolved by 1:30 p.m., according to the NS. 

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