Snow causes major traffic problems, trains and planes cancelled

Heavy snow over much of the country on Friday caused serious disruption on the roads and led Dutch Rail (NS) to adapt train services. Some flights from Schiphol airport were also delayed.


By 14.30 hours there were 800 km of traffic jams, as the snow moved southwards over the country.
The NS said it was reducing Sprinter train services for the rest of the day but Intercity trains would continue as normal.
‘By adapting the timetable, train traffic jams are less likely to form and the chance of the entire rail network grinding to a halt will be reduced,’ the NS said in a statement.
Traffic jams
Slow-moving traffic and accidents led to tailbacks on some roads, with the A7 from Amsterdam to Groningen and A9 from Amstelveen to Alkmaar particularly affected, the motoring organisation ANWB said.
As the snow moved south in the early afternoon, the congestion spread to Utrecht and surroundings.
The ANWB is warning drivers that slippery conditions will continue and snow ploughs are ready to clear roads if it becomes necessary. In particular, the evening rush hour is likely to be seriously affected.
Weather warning
The KNMI weather bureau issued a code orange severe weather warning in western provinces on Friday morning, saying up to 10 cm of snow could fall in some places.
Once the snow has fallen it will remain very cold and dry, with heavy frosts at night. The weekend will again be clear and sunny.
The KNMI expects the cold weather to continue until at least next Friday, when temperatures may rise above freezing during the day.

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