Helium balloon responsible for Schiphol train outage

A helium balloon brought onto the platform caused the power failure at Schiphol that disrupted train services on Wednesday morning. Footage shows that the “festive balloon” touched the overhead lines, creating a shower of sparks and triggering the outage, ProRail explained.

The power outage halted train services to and from Schiphol during the morning rush, causing severe disruption for passengers and widespread delays and cancellations. ProRail, the rail infrastructure manager, confirmed that trains could not run until the source of the problem was found and the electricity supply was restored.

A spokesperson described the incident as “extremely frustrating.” Bringing helium balloons onto the platform is prohibited, and this violation caused the disruption. “We strongly urge everyone to comply with this rule; it has had truly significant consequences,” they said.

Prorail explains that the helium balloons are made from thin aluminum foil, which is highly conductive. “When a balloon comes into contact with the high-voltage overhead wires, it creates a short circuit and bursts in a shower of sparks.” Helium balloons are available for purchase at Schiphol, often given to arriving passengers. ProRail advises anyone carrying a helium balloon to deflate it and store it in their bag before heading to the train platform.

At this stage, it is uncertain if the individual who brought the balloon onto the platform will face any consequences for breaking the ban.