NS will only sometimes run longer trains along A7 routes during five-month construction

The NS will only sometimes use longer trains when roadworks will be carried out on the A7 motorway bridge in Purmerend. The national railway could not say when they would run the longer trains, but mostly believes the trains they are currently operating to Purmerend have enough space for all passengers who choose to travel by train rather than driving.

The rush hour periods could bring extensive additional travel time for drivers. Infrastructure agency Rijkswaterstaat advised affected motorists to work from home from April to September if possible, or find alternative transportation, like carpooling and public transport.

In this way, they hope there will be more space for people with no other option but to travel by car. Rijkswaterstaat will make free NS discount cards available during this time to stimulate using public transport.

Two Sprinter trains stop in Purmerend every hour, and two extra Intercity trains between Enkhuizen and Amsterdam Centraal will also stop during rush hours in Purmerend, a spokesperson for the NS explained.

During the morning rush hour, extra trains will come from the north; in the evening rush hour, the extra intercity from Amsterdam will make a stop in Purmerend. No Intercity trains will stop in Purmerend outside of the rush hours.

The spokesperson said that the NS will continue to monitor the situation if, for example, there is a run on the free subscriptions. “We call on all passengers to use all trains, not just the intercity during rush hour.”

Rijkswaterstaat will start reinforcing the bridge over the Noordhollandsch Kanaal on April 5. The construction is expected to last until September 1.

Motorists should be prepared for narrowed driving lanes and a lower maximum speed. The extra travel could be up to an hour. The hindrance will be especially prevalent during the morning and evening rush hours, Rijkswaterstaat expects.