Parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, have been hit by major rail disruption after suspected sabotage to the tracks, the country’s railway infrastructure operator has said.
A spokesperson for operator ProRail told the BBC disruption was not yet over but services were gradually recovering, after widespread cancellations and delays in the country’s centre and north on Tuesday.
Pipes and cables were placed on the tracks in multiple locations, according to local media. In a statement, ProRail said the incident appeared to be “an intentional disruption… caused by human action”.
It added that no suspects or motives had been identified. Police said a criminal investigation had been launched.
“Objects were found on railway tracks at several locations across the country, causing major disruption to rail traffic,” Dutch police said in a statement.
The national public prosecutor’s office and the Netherlands’ intelligence agency AIVD is investigating the incident alongside police.
Routes to the main international airport, Schiphol, Eindhoven and Utrecht were among those affected on Tuesday, with the network saying that 30 disruptions had been reported across the country.
The closure of some level crossing also caused some disruption to roads.
“At some locations, multiple reports were received. We removed items that had been found on the tracks, but later received another report of a fault at the same location,” ProRail added.
Train operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen earlier said that disruption was so extensive it was “not possible” to provide a bus replacement service.
In an update on Tuesday afternoon it said train service was gradually resuming but with some delays and cancellations.
