Dutch railway company NS on Friday said it is reducing services further because of the heatwave, which may buckle rails.

Reduced services have been operating from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht since Thursday morning, but these will be stepped up, the NS says on its website.

Track maintenance company ProRail is carrying out extra checks on the tracks to make sure they are not being affected by the heat. The high temperatures can also affect bridge opening mechanisms, causing long delays, NS said.

The move is likely to affect Utrecht in particular, where thousands of visitors are expected for the weekend Tour de France festivities. The Tour is due to begin its first stage on Sunday, when participants will cycle from Utrecht to Zeeland.

Water

Meanwhile, water company Vitens will pump a record amount of water to Utrecht over the weekend, broadcaster Nos says. It is expected that 30 million litres of water a day, double the normal amount, will be needed because of the heat and the Tour de France.

In order to ensure pipes do not crack, the water pressure will be gradually raised, starting on Friday.

Vitens says the extra water pressure may cause the water to turn brown as iron particles swirl into the supply. Brown water remains drinkable, although it should not be given to children or the elderly, the company says.