Major rail disruption affected parts of the Netherlands on Tuesday after pipes, cables and other materials were deliberately placed on railway tracks at numerous locations, according to railway infrastructure operator ProRail.
More than 35 incidents were reported across central and northern parts of the country, disrupting services in Amsterdam and several other areas. The incidents caused widespread train cancellations and delays, while some locations experienced further problems after materials had already been removed.
ProRail said the objects interfered with railway signalling and control systems. The materials made computer systems register false information suggesting that trains were occupying sections of track. As a result, traffic controllers were unable to safely release the affected routes.
The operator described placing objects on railway lines as extremely dangerous and said it was fortunate that no accidents occurred as a direct result of Tuesday's incidents.
Police have opened a criminal investigation, but authorities have not identified any suspects or established a motive. The national public prosecutor's office and the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD are also involved in investigating the incidents.
The disruption affected routes serving important destinations, including Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven and Utrecht. Some railway crossings were also closed, creating additional problems for road traffic.
Earlier, ProRail reported that a train had struck a metal object near Steenwijk on Monday morning. The train was travelling at reduced speed, preventing further damage, according to the infrastructure operator.
By around 17:00 CEST on Tuesday, ProRail said no new track blockages had been reported since 13:00 and that the known obstructions had been cleared. However, Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) continued to report disruption on two routes later in the evening.
NS interim chief executive Mirjam van Velthuizen said the incidents demonstrated how heavily the Netherlands depends on its railway network. She called for stronger contingency planning and greater investment so that the system can continue operating during unexpected disruptions and recover more quickly.
NS had earlier warned that the scale of the disruption was so severe that it could not provide replacement buses for all affected passengers.
The railway incidents occurred on Prinsjesdag, the day when the Dutch government presents its annual budget. The same day also saw protests by farmers in several parts of the country.
Hay bales were set on fire along roads after Farmers Defence Force (FDF), an organisation representing Dutch farmers and agricultural workers, announced demonstrations against government measures aimed at reducing nitrogen emissions.
Authorities have not linked the farmer protests to the railway disruption. FDF denied responsibility for the damage to railway infrastructure, although the organisation said it could not exclude the possibility that individual farmers may have been involved.
The Dutch incidents also came shortly after reports from France raised questions about possible sabotage linked to a train derailment in Normandy. French prosecutors said a section of rail discovered on the track may have contributed to the crash. However, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez urged caution, stressing that investigators were still examining multiple possibilities.
Authorities in the Netherlands continue to investigate the railway incidents, while passengers were advised to check travel information before using affected routes.
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