Netherlands urged to invest at least €600 million to protect railways from sabotage
The Netherlands’ railway system is vulnerable to sabotage and cyberattacks, and the government must invest at least 600 million euros to strengthen security, according to a Monday advisory report from the Physical Environment Advisory Council (Overlegorgaan Fysieke Leefomgeving, OFL).
The council concluded that the country’s railways are currently optimized for efficiency and punctuality but are insufficiently prepared for deliberate attacks or cyber intrusions. Current policies focus mainly on operational disruptions caused by weather or technical failures, which experts say is outdated.
The report recommends installing fences, surveillance cameras, and anti-drone measures along railway lines. While specific locations are not identified, Utrecht hosts two major rail hubs—Utrecht Centraal and Amersfoort Centraal—and houses a key traffic control center operated by ProRail. Authorities suspect that a deliberate cable fire disrupted train services at Schiphol Airport throughout June.
Researchers also highlight the need for increased railway capacity to support military transport, as well as longer tracks that can accommodate trains up to 740 meters. Additional emergency systems, spare parts, and removal of obstacles along tracks are advised, particularly in port areas.
Caretaker State Secretary Christophe van der Aartsen endorsed the report, saying he plans to implement its recommendations and ensure Defense receives priority access to the rail network. ProRail CEO John Voppen also pledged to focus on “increasing the resilience” of the country’s railway system.
The warning follows a statement last week by Voppen responding to concerns from Ukrainian Railways about Russian attacks.
Russian assaults on rail networks are constantly evolving, and hackers are already targeting European systems, as noted by Oleg Yakovenko of Ukrainian Railways. “It is only a matter of time before attacks become physical,” he said. Yakovenko highlighted the growing threat from drones at European airports and called for a “massive, fundamental shift towards protection and resilience,” criticizing Europe’s current approach as still in its infancy.
