Train services were disrupted on several busy routes for a time on Tuesday morning because of a shortage of controllers, rail network operator ProRail said.

ProRail currently needs to recruit 60 more controllers to be at full strength. ‘We can often solve the lack of staff by thinking creatively and thanks to the flexibility of our crew, but not always,’ spokesman Martijn de Graaf told NOS news.

Controllers are responsible for ensuring safety and smooth train traffic on a given route.

ProRail has now increased its budget to recruit new controllers eight-fold and is taking other steps to make the job more attractive. However, until numbers are up, hopefully by the end of 2023, trains services will be cancelled on occasion, De Graaf said.