Dutch trains grind to a halt as frozen switches disrupt key routes
Train services in the Netherlands have faced major disruptions this morning due to wintry conditions. Frozen switches have halted all bookings between Utrecht and Leiden, while Amsterdam Central Station and Schiphol Airport remain cut off from the network.
The problems began when freezing temperatures caused switch failures between Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiden Lammenschans. As a result, no bookings are running on this stretch, leaving passengers stranded. Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the country’s main rail operator, confirmed the complete outage on this key route.
Bookings to and from Amsterdam Central have also stopped entirely. The frozen switches have brought travel in the wider Amsterdam area and around Schiphol Airport to a standstill. Commuters heading into the city or catching flights face long waits. NS expects delays between Utrecht and Leiden to continue until around 11:45 AM. Some relief may come sooner, with limited bookings to Amsterdam Central possibly restarting by 10:45 AM. However, disruptions across the region will likely drag on through the morning.
The wintry weather has forced a full shutdown of critical rail links, affecting thousands of travellers. While partial service may return later this morning, delays and cancellations will persist for hours. Passengers are advised to check updates before attempting to travel.
