NS limits northern train services as snow hits Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe
Heavy snowfall of 5–10 centimeters forecast for Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe is prompting NS to temporarily isolate northern rail services from the national timetable until about noon on Wednesday, January 28. As a result, trains serving northern destinations will run only as far as Zwolle, requiring passengers to transfer there.
The measure is meant to confine snow- and ice-related disruptions to the region north of Zwolle, preventing knock-on problems for rail traffic in the rest of the country.
The Dutch weather service (KNMI) has issued a weather warning for snow and ice in the northern provinces, with snowfall expected to cause slippery conditions on roads and for travel. The weather warning is in effect for Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe from Tuesday evening through at least Wednesday.
Winter weather, such as snow and ice, makes switches and infrastructure more difficult to operate; they can freeze or fail to function properly in low temperatures, making train operations more challenging.
Snowfall had previously triggered a Code Orange warning in the northern regions, resulting in modified train schedules lasting several days and calls for travelers to avoid unnecessary journeys.
During previous bouts of snow and icy conditions, NS and ProRail ran a scaled-back winter service, warning that restoring the normal timetable would not happen immediately.
Passengers are advised to consult the NS app or journey planner just before leaving to confirm current departure times and any updates, expect extra transfers, such as a change in Zwolle, when traveling to or from northern destinations, and plan for longer journeys and potential congestion on some lines.
