Suspected sabotage disrupts Dutch rail network across the Netherlands

Major disruption hit the Dutch rail network on Tuesday after suspected sabotage caused railway signals to fail at more than 35 locations across the north and centre of the Netherlands, according to infrastructure operator ProRail. Pipes and cables were deliberately laid on tracks, tricking traffic-control computer systems into believing trains were present and preventing lines from being cleared. Routes serving Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Eindhoven and Utrecht were among those affected, with knock-on disruption to roads where level crossings had to be closed.

ProRail said the incidents appeared intentional and warned that placing materials on tracks was extremely dangerous and unacceptable, though it noted no accidents resulted. In one earlier case near Steenwijk, a train struck metal debris on the line but sustained no serious damage because it was not travelling at full speed. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the sabotage as disruptive and life-threatening.

The national public prosecutor's office, police and the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD are jointly investigating the incidents. No suspects or motives had been identified as of Tuesday evening, though authorities confirmed a formal criminal investigation was under way, leaving open questions about who was responsible and why.