Multiple issues disrupting train traffic in Randstad on Liberation Day

People taking the train to a Liberation Day festival or freedom meal in the Randstad area could face even more crowded train carriages than usual. NS reported multiple issues on the rails in the Randstad area, resulting in no or fewer trains running on several routes.

A switch failure means that no trains are running between Utrecht and The Hague. NS deployed buses between Gouda, Lansingerland-Zoetermeer, and Zoetermeer Oost. The rail company hopes to resolve this issue by 11:15 a.m.

Another switch failure resulted in fewer trains running between Schiphol and Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. Fewer Intercity trains are also running between Leiden and The Hague. NS expects that these issues will cause about 15 minutes of extra travel time per route and hopes to have them resolved by 11:30 a.m.

Broken overhead lines also mean that fewer trains are running between Amsterdam and Utrecht, and no trains are running at all between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Hoorn Kersenboogerd. This issue should be fixed by 12:15 p.m., NS said.

The disrupted train traffic could mean trouble for people planning to take public transport to the Liberation Day festivals and meals. The festivals kick off after the May 5 lecture at 1:00 p.m., when Prime Minister Dick Schoolf lights the Liberation Fire on the main stage of the Liberation Festival in Wageningen. That is the start sign for the 14 Liberation Festivals spread throughout the country.

There are also over a thousand Freedom Meals happening throughout the country, according to NOS. The largest one is happening in Assen, with over 1,000 guests expected.