Suspected sabotage disrupts Dutch trains, level crossings
- On Tuesday, a major outage hit the Dutch railway system after security systems were disrupted in 20 different places. ProRail, the company managing the infrastructure, is treating the cause as possible sabotage.
- Railway workers discovered 'materials' deliberately placed on the tracks at 5.30 a.m., causing track-circuit failures. The objects disturbed sensors monitoring train locations, forcing signals to turn red and interfering with safety systems, a spokesman told NOS.
- Train services around Zwolle, Deventer, Amersfoort, and Utrecht faced severe delays during the morning rush hour. The Reisplanner app used by travellers to plan journeys was also out of service during the disruption.
- Thousands traveled to The Hague to watch Willem-Alexander participate in the annual budget procession, coinciding with the railway disruption. The royal family traditionally rides through the city in horse-drawn carriages to mark the government's legislative programme.
- Trains running through Utrecht and Zwolle, including routes to Schiphol, are expected to resume from 10 a.m. The National railway company advised travelers to check the app for updates, as it remains unclear when services will fully normalize.
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"We conducted investigations and found material that had been intentionally placed on the tracks, so we can say that the railway line was sabotaged." (ANSA)
ProRail has removed pipes and other items from the tracks at at least 27 locations that were deliberately placed there. ‘The responsibility for guarding the tracks lies primarily with railway infrastructure manager ProRail,’ says Eric Schouten, former AIVD agent and director of Dyami Security Intelligence, ‘but they can of course be supported in this by the ministry and the police.’
Deliberately attached tubes have caused disturbances in several areas, according to manager ProRail, who suspects sabotage. A train struck one of these objects without causing any injuries. An investigation is under way.
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