Rail strikes to halt train services across the Netherlands starting at 6 a.m.
Train operations across the Netherlands will be severely disrupted on Friday as ProRail traffic control staff begin striking at 6 a.m. The work stoppage, centered at the Eindhoven and Maastricht control posts, will halt all train services in Limburg and much of North Brabant until 9 a.m. The Dutch Railways (NS) expects the effects to ripple beyond the strike zones, with widespread delays and cancellations likely to persist throughout the morning.
The strike will halt key domestic services, including routes between Amsterdam Central, Utrecht Central, and Geldermalsen. International trains between Germany and Amsterdam, via Venlo, will also be suspended. Additionally, ongoing maintenance work by ProRail around Schiphol Airport is expected to exacerbate delays.
Regional operator Arriva has announced that its trains in the affected areas will also stop running until 9 a.m. Arriva anticipates returning to a normal schedule by late morning, but NS has warned travelers to expect significant disruptions even after service resumes.
The strike on Friday is part of a larger labor dispute and follows a similar stoppage earlier this week, during which train services in southwestern regions were disrupted.
The strikes are led by the FNV union, which is demanding a 13 percent wage increase for ProRail employees. ProRail has rejected this demand as unrealistic, instead offering a 5.2 percent increase. “This dispute is not only about wages but also about fair recognition for the work our members do,” FNV representatives said.
The ANWB has warned that Friday’s road traffic is likely to be equally congested. Commuters are advised to plan ahead and check for real-time travel updates.
The strike on Friday is the second this week, with further disruptions planned. ProRail workers at traffic control posts in Zwolle, Groningen, and Arnhem are scheduled to strike. NS has yet to announce the specific impact on train services for these regions. While train operations are expected to resume after 9 a.m., delays and cancellations are likely to persist as the service gradually normalizes.
