Suspected sabotage triggers major Dutch rail outage during morning rush hour

Rail services across significant portions of the Netherlands came to a halt on Tuesday following the discovery of tubes tied to tracks at around 20 locations, authorities now treating the event as a coordinated act of sabotage. ProRail, the rail infrastructure operator, stated that deliberate objects had interfered with the electrical systems, leading to widespread track malfunctions.

Materials were found at multiple points along the tracks that had been placed deliberately, causing sections of the railway to malfunction. ProRail confirmed that the sabotage caused signaling systems to interpret affected sections as occupied, halting all trains regardless of actual presence.

The disruption commenced around 5:30 am (CET) and primarily affected the Amersfoort–Zwolle, Utrecht–Arnhem, Arnhem–Zutphen, and Zwolle–Leeuwarden routes. National operator NS reported severe delays during morning commuter hours in cities such as Zwolle, Deventer, and Amersfoort. One train struck a tube near Steenwijk in Overijssel, but no injuries were reported.

The timing of the disruption appears to be linked to Prinsjesdag, the Netherlands' annual Budget Day, when the King traditionally makes his annual speech in The Hague before a large audience.

In addition to the railway disruption, malfunctioning level crossings also caused traffic disruptions in the affected areas. The disruption coincided with the same day as Prinsjesdag, further complicating the situation. Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the railway and road traffic disruptions. State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Annet Bertram expressed deep concern and called for a thorough investigation.

The National Police are leading the inquiry into the incident, but no group has claimed responsibility, and ProRail has not yet identified who was behind the attack or the motive behind the sabotage.