Suspected sabotage causes widespread disruption to Dutch rail network
Suspected sabotage disrupted the Dutch rail network on Tuesday when pipes and cables were deliberately placed on tracks at more than 35 locations in the north and central Netherlands, causing signal failures and widespread train cancellations. Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the incidents as disruptive and life-threatening, and authorities have launched a joint criminal investigation. No suspects have yet been identified.
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The Dutch rail network experienced major disruption on Tuesday following suspected sabotage that caused railway signals to fail at more than 35 locations across the north and centre of the Netherlands, according to ProRail, the country's infrastructure operator. Pipes and cables were deliberately laid on tracks, deceiving traffic-control computer systems into registering false train presence and preventing lines from being cleared. Major routes serving Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven and Utrecht were among those affected, with secondary disruption affecting roads where level crossings had to be closed.
ProRail stated that the incidents appeared intentional and described placing materials on tracks as extremely dangerous and unacceptable, though it confirmed no accidents had resulted. In an earlier case near Steenwijk, a train struck metal debris on the line but sustained no serious damage because it was travelling below full speed. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten characterised the sabotage as disruptive and life-threatening.
The national public prosecutor's office, police and the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD are conducting a joint investigation into the incidents. As of Tuesday evening, no suspects or motives had been identified, though authorities confirmed that a formal criminal investigation was under way.
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