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Reduced rail services continue; its not our fault, says NS chiefSunday 05 February 2012 Dutch Rail (NS) will operate reduced intercity services in much of the country on Sunday and Monday as efforts to reduce the effect of the cold weather on rail services continue News agency ANP reports rail operator ProRail had hundreds of staff on duty overnight to try to keep crucial points ice-free. The Dutch railway system is separated into a passenger arm – the NS – and rail operator ProRail which runs the tracks. Both companies are 100% state-owned. As criticism of the chaos on the railways continued, NS chief executive Ingrid Thijssen told Radio 1 her company is not to blame for the problems. The NS had enough trains and personnel on standby but ‘the tracks did not do it’, she said, refering to ProRail. Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen has asked both the NS and ProRail to explain the problems which led to thousands of passengers being stranded during and after Friday's snowfall. New rules Similar problems last year led the minister to bring in new guidelines for providing passenger information during bad weather. Rail users organisation Rover called on the minister to get tough on the NS for failing to provide proper information to passengers. ‘Last time they blamed special snow flakes, now it is hardened ice,’ spokesman Chris Vonk is quoted as saying in the Telegraaf. ‘Yet in the rest of Europe trains continue to operate without any problems whatever the temperature.’ Cold snap The Netherlands is now officially in the grip of a cold spell because the temperature has not risen above zero since January 29 and the temperature at night has been as low as -10 Celsius for the third night in a row. There have been 32 official cold snaps since 1901, according to website weeronline.nl. On Sunday there were reduced speed limits on many roads because of the freezing conditions. © DutchNews.nl
I agree with Mr. Vonk. I had to take a total of 8 trains to get to my destination in England yesterday, 6 of which were in the Netherlands. Despite equally freezing temperatures in Belgium and England, they managed to keep their trains running relatively on time. Is this the type of service our taxes are paying for? By Laurel | February 5, 2012 6:35 PM Dutch Transport Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is in the back pocket of NS & ProRail. Private profiteers have no incentive to make proper investments in former state run utilities. Return transport to the public sector with qualified persons managing the enterprise. By Chek-IN/Chek-OUT | February 5, 2012 7:43 PM I have been watching these exact same news reports for years and years; after even the lightest snowfall, the Dutch railways always ALWAYS have problems. In typical Dutch fashion, they also always have to say someone or the company or something 'failed'. I guess this way they have a scapegoat and no one has to actually solve the problems. So next year, expect the same news and the same exact thing to happen! At least you can count on it ;) By Bill | February 6, 2012 6:53 AM ‘Last time they blamed special snow flakes, now it is hardened ice,’ By joanna | February 6, 2012 8:17 AM It's not their fault? I don't care, just fix it, for Pete's sake! You knew it was coming, you knew that last year and the year before it was a desaster, so howcome you just can't figure it out? Just call Switzerland or something, ACT!!!! By phantom | February 6, 2012 10:09 AM Back in my hometown of Portland, OR, this sort of thing happens every time there's a prolonged period of cold weather. The entire city shuts down and the trains (the MAX) stop running. Everyone spends the following few weeks pointing fingers but the reasons are simple: no one's willing to invest in infrastructural improvements for something that happens once in a blue moon. Same here in the NL. Why put resources into preparing for a cold-weather event that rarely happens? By B | February 6, 2012 10:21 AM How can we get in touch Rover - the rail users organisation? By Lisa Vickers | February 6, 2012 2:38 PM NS should compensate the owners of prepaid and discount cards with extra days in their subscription. By George | February 6, 2012 9:30 PM Advancing to magnetic rail will solve this problem. By Craig | February 7, 2012 3:56 AM This morning not only half of the scheduled trains travelled, but they were also half of the usual size. By joanna | February 7, 2012 8:09 AM @B: Nicely said, perfect post. Unfortunately this question isn't asked often enough. By Stupid | February 7, 2012 12:56 PM @B, @Stupid : If I understand your point, then do you also mean that Schiphol should not provide de-icing machines for aircraft prior to flight departure for the same reason? By Chek-IN/Chek-OUT | February 12, 2012 10:38 PM
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I went to Belgium on Friday, near never made it because of the chaos starting then. I talked to a Dutch engineer and he out right said he refused to work in the cold and will not drive the train. Yeah, hardened ice indeed. princess Dutch unions is my thinking
By Darrell Mennie | February 5, 2012 5:57 PM