Due to the NS staff strike, almost all trains in the north of the Netherlands have been canceled today. There is only an occasional train to and from Schiphol Airport, but it is much less than usual.
The train failure is the result of the NS staff strike. The workers had already gone on strike on Wednesday (Northern governorates) and Friday (West), and the reason for the work halt was the dispute over high wages.
Unions want their employees to be better compensated to maintain purchasing power. NS does not agree with this.
So there is a strike today. The carrier’s travel planner shows that there is almost no train around stations such as Amsterdam Central, Alkmaar, Haarlem and Horn. Only to and from Schiphol Airport is there a cross train for “essential journeys”, according to NS.
The railway company does not use alternative buses and advises to choose an alternative mode of transport or not to go out at all.
Travel planner NS shows that many trains in Amsterdam Central are not running.
Travel planner NS shows that many trains in Amsterdam Central are not running.
The hit was also felt (far) outside the north of the Netherlands
As with previous regional strikes, the NS also anticipates problems outside the affected area (this time in the Northwest). Several trains per hour in Utrecht Central and Rotterdam Central were canceled due to the strike.
NS hopes to limit damage by driving to Almeer Ostvarders stations, Amsterdam Belmer Arena, Utrecht Central, Voorhout and back.
International rail traffic also felt the strike. Thalys and Eurostar trains do not run. An intercity flight to Brussels in Belgium operates, but only from Rotterdam. The ICE train to Frankfurt in Germany still leaves from Amsterdam, but less often.
The strikes are not over yet
Today’s strike is already the third, but certainly not the last. NS employees in the Central District will be striking tomorrow. The consequences of this are expected to be significant, as the work stoppage affects the heart of the railways in the Netherlands: Utrecht.
The last leg of the relay strike is scheduled for Wednesday. Then NS employees in the south and east of the country will stop working.
