Signal failure halts trains to Schiphol; Geldermalsen-Den Bosch line closed after crash
Updated at 16:00 to say that the signal failure has been fixed.
Train service to and from Schiphol Airport was severely disrupted this weekend due to a signal failure, with only trains between Hoofddorp and Schiphol operating, ProRail reported. Travelers are advised to check the travel planner before departure. The signal failure was reported as resolved on Sunday afternoon.
“Because of a signal malfunction between Amsterdam Zuid and Schiphol, very few trains are running to and from Schiphol,” ProRail said. Planned weekend maintenance also means no trains are operating between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol and significantly fewer trains are running between Amsterdam Zuid and Schiphol. Authorities are investigating the cause of the signal failure in cooperation with the contractor to restore normal service as soon as possible.
ProRail began large-scale maintenance at and around Schiphol Airport station. The work is scheduled from October 31 through November 3 and again from November 16 through December 8. The maintenance includes milling or replacing track rails, servicing several switches, and renewing station furnishings such as benches, trash cans, and information panels.
Meanwhile, rail service between Geldermalsen and Den Bosch will remain suspended for at least a week following a Thursday collision between a passenger train and a truck at a level crossing in Meteren. About 200 passengers were on the train when it hit a truck loaded with pears that was stuck on the tracks. Five people sustained minor injuries, including passengers and the truck driver.
ProRail described the damage as “incredibly large.” Recovery and repair work, initially expected to conclude Sunday, will take longer due to the extent of the damage. “Now that the trains have been removed, we have a clearer picture of the precise scope of the damage,” ProRail said. “Specialized work is required, which is why the repairs will take longer than previously assumed.”
The repair operation will involve replacing 2,000 meters of track and 600 sleepers, as well as fully replacing the level crossing. NS is providing replacement bus services between Geldermalsen, Zaltbommel, and Den Bosch, while sprinter trains continue to run between Utrecht and Geldermalsen.
