ProRail strike to halt train traffic in north & east Friday, including regional trains

NS expects that a strike by ProRail train traffic controllers on Friday morning will severely disrupt train traffic in the north and east of the country during the morning rush hour. The consequences for passengers “just like on previous strike days, will be greater than just the strike area,” the carrier said. Regional trains from carriers Arriva and Keolis will also not run until 9:00 a.m. on Friday due to the strike.

The FNV strike on Friday morning will happen between 6:00 and 9:00 at ProRail traffic control posts in Groningen, Zwolle, and Arnhem. NS will restart the timetable from 9:00 a.m.

Passengers can expect disruptions and possible train cancelations all morning, NS said. In addition to the strike, far fewer trains are also running to, from, and via Schiphol on Friday due to railworks by ProRail, NS added. Passengers are advised to check the most up-to-date travel advice shortly before departure.

Arriva reports that none of its trains will run in Friesland, Groningen, Overijssel, Drenthe, and Gelderland during the strike. Trains from Keolis, which operates under the name Blauwnet on the Zwolle-Enschede and Zwolle-Kampen routes, will also not be running until 9:00. Both carriers will start up after the trike is done. Arriva expects that the timetable will “run again in full” during the course of the morning. Keolis urged travelers to find alternative transport or leave after 9:00 a.m.

ProRail employees have held multiple strikes in the past week, affecting train traffic in various parts of the country. Trade union FNV is demanding a higher wage increase than ProRail is willing to give. The trade union warned that more strikes involving more ProRail employees or more regions at once will follow.

The two other trade unions active at ProRail, CNV and VHS, are not participating in the actions because the majority of their members agreed with the collective bargaining agreement ProRail offered in the summer.