Train services across the Netherlands have been severely disrupted by a breakdown in the telecommunications network, operator NS said on Monday.

Intercity and local services in most of the country been cancelled until 4.30pm because of the technical issues, which have rendered points and signals inoperable.

Some local trains not operated by NS are still running in the north, Brabant and Limburg, while replacement buses have been laid on for other routes. Details are available on NS’s website www.ns.nl.

NS advised travellers to postpone their journeys if possible.

Network operator ProRail told RTL Nieuws that the problem was in its maintenance network and had left it unable to communicate with train drivers.

A spokesman said services were likely to be severely disrupted for the rest of the day. ‘If trains all over the country stop running and you have to start up again, it takes a very long time before everything is running normally again.’