Dutch rail strike: Most trains cancelled today, but Amsterdam-Schiphol trains running
Dutch national railway suspended all domestic train services across the Netherlands on Friday, with railway workers in the crucial central region of the country going forward with a planned 24-hour strike. Trains will continue to operate only between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol Airport, as well as international services, however the Eurocity Direct train connecting Amsterdam and Brussels will not run.
International trains originating in the Netherlands will only be available for passengers who will exit the train outside of Dutch borders. They will not allow passengers to use the services to attempt to travel between Dutch rail stations.
The Central Netherlands regional strike was called by the FNV labor union, with a start time of 4 a.m. on Friday. The region is home to the most used rail station in the country, Utrecht Centraal, and also covers the operation center used for planning and communications with all NS trains operating in the country.
Replacement buses will not operate during the strike, as capacity would be far too limited, a spokesperson for the NS told ANP. The NS said it expected to resume its regularly scheduled service beginning Saturday at 4 a.m. Some passengers impacted by the rail shutdown are entitled to refunds, and those who choose alternative modes of transportation may be able to claim compensation of up to 25 euros.
The FNV said the NS offered a pay increase of 2.55 percent in current contract talks, below the official inflation estimate of 3.3 percent over the past 12 calendar months. NS workers received an average 9 percent pay raise in their 2022 contract, followed by a 6.6 percent bump in the contract that expired on March 1.
Despite the substantial wage increases in recent years, the labor union has argued the NS is not keeping pace with the rate of inflation dating back to 2019. The FNV said that still means workers have effectively swallowed a 5 percent loss in spending power over the past six years.
The railway has had serious financial concerns since the coronavirus pandemic, with ridership figures yet to return to levels seen before the health crisis. It could push ticket fares up 12 percent next year, according to the outgoing Cabinet.
Additional strikes are planned for Tuesday in the western portion of the Netherlands, and on Thursday in the northwest and east. A modified schedule will be in effect on those dates, with the full impact not yet known. Potential strikes on June 16 and 17 are under review, and the NS said it will provide updates as information becomes available.
