Train services around Schiphol will be severely disrupted on Friday until late afternoon because of unscheduled work to remove rust from tracks which have not been used for some time, the NS has said.

Rail operator ProRail had initially forgotten to schedule a clean-up operation of the tracks and only announced the work late on Thursday evening.

“We found out two weeks ago that rust removal had not been planned as part of the work. We have deliberated long and hard how to best avoid disruption and came up with a decision yesterday. That is why we were late in announcing it,” a ProRail spokesman told broadcaster NOS.

Most of the work will be done by 3.15 pm, the spokesman said, “with some small remaining problems. Tomorrow morning everything will be back to normal.”

ProRail has apologised for its bad planning.