Dutch railway company NS is to slash services from Saturday in an effort to maintain a reliable railway network as coronavirus continues to spread.

The new service will allow the state owned company to provide a basic service as passenger numbers plummet, while ensuring travellers do not have to sit close to each other, NS said in a statement.

The switch means longer journey times and more changeovers, NS said, and international train services will also be affected. At least one shop and ticket centre will be open in stations which currently have such facilities.