NS faces week-long maintenance backlog after cold snap; Fewer trains on key routes

Dutch national railway NS said on Tuesday it will need a week to get caught up on train maintenance that was delayed last week due to the snow and severe cold. The impact will be felt for the next several days on specific routes where fewer trains are being operated.

The NS will operate fewer trains than usual on seven routes on Tuesday, with one limitation being a reduction in the number of Intercity trains operated. This will fall from six per hour to four on the routes Schiphol-Utrecht-Nijmegen, Amsterdam-Zuid-The Hague, Amsterdam-Alkmaar, Zwolle-Assen-Groningen, The Hague-Gouda Goverwelle, Amersfoort-Barneveld, and Almelo-Hardenberg.

NS said it expects similar restrictions on these routes on Wednesday, as well. Restrictions for the rest of the week have yet to be specified.

Last week, it was virtually impossible to transport trains to maintenance facilities due to the wintry weather, the NS said. Many switches were locked in place to reduce the risk of switch failures during the cold snap.

As a result, switches that connect railroad track sections to maintenance locations were often engaged in a different direction. Other switches also malfunctioned, or were covered in snow.

Approximately 400 train carriages require maintenance and repairs each week, the NS explained. This week, 700 carriages are awaiting maintenance and repairs. Additionally, due to the cold weather last week, some trains are in a more precarious state, and are breaking down more frequently.

Some damage reports include notifications about entry steps which are frozen in place, and heating malfunctions. Trains demonstrating breakdowns will be prioritized for scheduled maintenance.

According to the national train service provider, engineers are working around the clock to complete overdue maintenance. The NS said repairs are being carried out as quickly as possible.