Wintry weather keeps its hold on commuters

Thursday 07 January 2010

Motoring organisations warned of difficult driving conditions on Thursday as the effects of yesterday's snow in the central belt of the Netherlands continue to be felt, but there were no major rush hour problems.

The first jams had already formed on the A9 in both directions before 6am, just five hours after the evening chaos had been cleared, reports news agency Novum.

Because of yesterday evenings jams, snow ploughs had been unable to do their work, so the transport ministry closed the road northwards in several places last night to allow snow clearance to begin, Novum says.

The ANWB says driving conditions are tricky in much of the country with heavy mist in places, particularly in Friesland and Noord Holland provinces.

Schiphol

Hundreds of air travelers were stranded at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on Wednesday night because of cancellations and had to be put up in hotels.

Delays are still expected on Thursday, particularly with flights to and from Britain and Germany, Nos tv reports. All the runways were reopened by 9.30am.

Railways

Dutch Rail (NS) reports some services have been cancelled because of 'equipment problems caused by the wintry weather'. In particular intercity services between the Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht have been affected.

The NS is introducing a 40% discounts on tickets outside the rush hour to encourage passengers to spread their journeys on Thursday and Friday. The company, which is state owned, is also spending an extra €10m on 'winter-proofing' its trains.

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