This coming Wednesday, train traffic in parts of the Netherlands will come to a standstill because of an announced strike at ProRail. Trade union FNV has called the strike among staff at the traffic control posts in Amsterdam and Alkmaar. Although the action is focused on a limited area, the consequences for passengers will reach much further. NS reports that between 06:00 and 09:00 no trains will run across large parts of Noord-Holland, Flevoland and Utrecht. Train traffic between Leiden, Schiphol and Haarlem will also come to a standstill. On the High-Speed Line (HSL) between Rotterdam, Schiphol and Amsterdam, no trains are expected either. Passengers should take into account extra delays and cancellations for the rest of the morning, since resuming the timetable takes time.
Background to the strike
The strike is the result of stalled collective labour agreement negotiations between trade union FNV and ProRail. ProRail employees have the right to strike and are exercising that right to back up their demands. NS regrets the inconvenience to passengers who, as a result of this action, will face longer travel times and possible discomfort.
Limited access to Schiphol
For passengers to and from Schiphol Airport, travel options on Wednesday are severely limited. During the strike, only four trains per hour will run between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol, under a special arrangement between ProRail and FNV. NS advises passengers to look for alternatives, where possible, for trips to and from Schiphol in the morning.
Consequences for international passengers
International train passengers will also experience disruption from this strike. On Tuesday and Wednesday an adjusted timetable applies for international trains. For the most recent information and travel advice, passengers can visit the NS International website.
Check the journey planner before departure
NS expects that in other parts of the Netherlands the regular timetable will largely be run. Even so, NS advises checking the journey planner just before departure, since the travel data was updated on Tuesday. Should your train journey be delayed because of the strike, you can claim compensation via the NS 'Money Back on Delay' scheme.
Strike days on the horizon
Trade union FNV has indicated that more strike days may follow. NS will inform passengers in good time about the expected consequences of these actions.