Dutch Rail Network Hit by Suspected Sabotage

The morning rush hour in the central and northern Netherlands was disrupted on Tuesday by long, thin pipes that had been deliberately attached to the rails. Railway infrastructure operator ProRail recorded approximately 20 such incidents.

The public broadcaster NOS aired footage of the objects being removed from the tracks. According to ProRail, this was likely a deliberate attempt to disrupt train service.

It is not yet known who is behind these acts or what the perpetrators’ motive was. Dutch police are investigating the case.

The pipes attached to the tracks did not only affect train service. Several railroad crossings had to remain closed, which also caused problems for road traffic. ProRail was unable to estimate when service would return to normal.

(Reuters, bak)