Public transport firms cut services as Omicron drives up absenteeism

Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

Public transport companies are planning to cut their services as absenteeism rates soar due to the Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Train, tram, bus and metro services will all be reduced in the coming days, Gerrit Spijksma, of public transport umbrella group OV-NL told broadcaster NOS.

Most public transport firms had already reduced services at the beginning of the year because commuter numbers are down as people work more from home. ‘Now we are reducing them still further because of the shortage of personnel,’ Spijksma said.

Dutch railway company NS said on Thursday that services would be cut in stages by 85% between February 7 and February 21. In practice, this means that on routes with six trains an hour, four will actually operate, the NS said.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation