Suspected sabotage causes major Netherlands rail disruption

Disruption across the centre and north

Parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, were hit by major rail disruption on Tuesday after suspected sabotage to the tracks, the country's railway operator has said.

ProRail warned that passengers in the centre and north of the country should expect cancellations and delays, while several level crossings were also malfunctioning. The operator said the incident appeared to be an intentional disruption caused by human action.

Materials "deliberately placed" on the track

Pipes were attached to the tracks in multiple locations, according to local media. In a statement, ProRail said: "Materials were found at multiple locations in the track that were deliberately placed there. This causes section malfunctions. Sabotage appears to be involved."

The operator added that no suspects or motives had been identified, and that the national police unit was investigating. The BBC has contacted the police for comment.

Fifteen disruptions recorded

The network's website showed that 15 disruptions had been recorded across the country on Tuesday, with routes to the main international airport, Schiphol, and to Utrecht also affected.

Footage published by the Dutch public broadcaster NOS showed police carrying what appeared to be metal pipes, about 1.5 metres (5ft) long, away from railway tracks at Veenendaal in the central Netherlands.

Why the case matters

The affected routes include the connection to Schiphol, the main international airport, and to Utrecht, and the operator has told passengers to expect cancellations and delays to continue. No suspects or motives have been identified so far, so it is not yet clear who placed the material on the tracks or why.