Fewer trains on three routes around Utrecht amid controller shortage

Fewer trains have been running on three routes around Utrecht since 14:30 on Friday because too few rail traffic controllers were available, rail operator ProRail said. The disruption was expected to continue into the evening, with Dutch Railways (NS) giving 23:15 as the estimated end time. [1]

The affected routes are Amersfoort–The Hague, Rotterdam–Utrecht and Bodegraven–Utrecht. ProRail attributed the shortage to staff illness during the autumn holiday. It said it could not fill the gaps with staff who were off duty, partly because colleagues were attending a farewell gathering. [1]

Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans said on the television programme *Café Kockelmann* that, if the report was accurate, he would speak to ProRail. Asked whether he considered the situation acceptable, he replied: “No, so not.” [1]