Extra trains, night service added for Nijmegen Vierdaagse walking event

Dutch rail operators NS and Arriva will run extra and longer trains day and night. The goal is to handle the massive crowds expected for this year’s Vierdaagse walking event in Nijmegen. The renowned four-day walking event usually draws about 1.5 million participants and revelers.

The marches take place from Tuesday, July 21, through Friday, July 24. To get walkers to the start on time, NS will operate extra early trains from various locations on those four days. On the final day, July 24, NS will run special shuttle trains back and forth between Arnhem and Nijmegen all day.

All passengers will face ticket checks. NS said it will deploy extra access gates at station entrances to verify valid tickets.

NS is also adding night trains. These will run from Monday, July 20, through Friday, July 24, on three routes: Nijmegen-Arnhem-Zutphen-Zwolle, Nijmegen-Arnhem-Utrecht, and Nijmegen-Den Bosch.

Regional operator Arriva will run trains day and night between Arnhem and Doetinchem and between Elst and Tiel. Those services run from Saturday, July 18, through Friday, July 24. NS services will connect with Arriva’s schedule. The Maaslijn between Nijmegen and Venray will operate through the night from July 20 to July 23.

Alcohol sales will be restricted during the event. Shops at the station and in the city center will not be allowed to sell alcohol between noon and midnight.

A record number of around 3,915 participants have withdrawn from this year’s walk. Despite the expected heat, the organizers are not worried. However, they warn that repeated cancellations caused by weather may soon spark talks about rescheduling to another season.