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Suspected sabotage causes major Netherlands rail disruption

Amy Walker
News imageEPA Two people are seen from behind looking up at an information board at Zwolle station in Zwolle, Netherlands, where trains are facing significant disuptionEPA

Parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, have been hit by major rail disruption after suspected sabotage to the tracks, the country's railway infrastructure operator has said.

ProRail warned that passengers in the country's centre and north should expect cancellations and delays on Tuesday, while the closure of some level crossings could cause disruption to roads.

Pipes were attached to the tracks in multiple locations, according to local media. In a statement, ProRail said the incident appeared to be "an intentional disruption... caused by human action".

It added that no suspects or motives had been identified, but the national police unit was investigating.

The BBC has contacted police for comment.

The network's website showed that at least15 disruptions had been recorded across the country on Tuesday, with routes to the main international airport, Schiphol, and Utrecht also affected.

Train operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen said services around Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoot had been disrupted.

It added that the disruption was so extensive it was "not possible" to provide a bus replacement service.

A Eurostar train from Amsterdam to Paris was also delayed due to "operational restrictions" at Amsterdam Centraal on Tuesday, although it was not clear if this was linked to wider disruption. The BBC has contacted Eurostar for further information.

ProRail said in a statement: "Materials were found at multiple locations in the track that were deliberately placed there. This causes section malfunctions. Sabotage appears to be involved".

News imageEPA Rail workers in hi vis jackets are pictured at a level crossing in Holten in the Netherlands on Tuesday. In the background a lorry can be seen parked on the other side of the crossing, while another worker is seen next to a large pile of building sacks.EPA
Some level crossings were closed as a result of Tuesday's disruption

Footage published by Dutch public broadcaster NOS on Tuesday showed police carrying what appeared to be metal pipes - about 1.5 metres (5ft)long - away from railway tracks at Veenendaal in the central Netherlands.

One train in the city of Steenwijk struck one of the objects, ProRail said, but added there were no injuries as a result.

The disruption in the Netherlands came after separate reports in French media suggested a derailment in Normandy on Friday could have been an act of sabotage.

According to prosecutors, a section of rail found on the track may have caused the crash. But France's interior minister Laurent Nunez has urged caution while an investigation is ongoing, saying that authorities are pursuing all leads.