The current infrastructure for high speed trains in the Netherlands needs an overhaul to make sure performance is not affected when more trains are using the tracks, according to a report drawn up for rail companies NS and Prorail.

The rail companies are concerned that the performance of high speed trains will come under pressure when services are stepped up in April.

From April 4, there will be two Eurostar services between London and Amsterdam and from April 9, new services from Amsterdam and The Hague to Brussels. In total, 246 trains a day will then use the Dutch high speed network.

The report says that only ‘far reaching changes to the track’ will make sure that high speed services offer the same reliability as ordinary trains. In particular, the two rail companies need to develop a long term vision for high speed services, the report said.

In the meantime, passengers must accept that cancellations and delays are inevitable.

Experts told the NRC the cost of the changes could be as much as €700m.

Performance

Meanwhile, the ordinary train services had to cope with more major problems last year according to new figures from track operator Prorail.

Prorial said there were 628 ‘bigger disruptions’ last year, caused by the weather, suicides, collisions and power outages. This is up slightly on 2016. The number of suicides fell from221 to 215.

However, the number of disruptions caused by technical failures actually fell, Prorail said.