Railway operating company ProRail is warning passengers that they face “inevitable inconvenience” traveling by train in 2024 as some 400 maintenance and other projects take place. 

“Our railway system mainly dates from just after World War II and needs major maintenance every 40 years,” says chief executive John Voppen. “Now we are 80 years on and need a second round. At the same time, we want to expand the network for more and better train traffic.”

By combining maintenance with expanding the network, disruption can be kept to a minimum, he said. 

Nevertheless, “working more during the day is also inevitably going to inconvenience passengers,” Voppen said. “If we were to work on the tracks exclusively during weekends and holiday periods, there would be too much work and not enough possibilities for alternative transport.”

Leeuwarden will be at the centre of major work this year and most of this work will be done in June and October, the state-owned company said.  

There will also be major disruption to services around Schiphol in May, September and November and in Amersfoort in July, August and October, where all the signals are being replaced. Check the complete list.