Influence of the weather on train services
NS and ProRail work together to make sure passengers can still be sure of reliable transport and good journey information in extreme weather conditions. Despite the relatively mild winter of 2016-2017, we took measures to be able to run according to the timetable in more severe winter weather. Examples include the deployment of trains that scrape ice off of the overhead lines and the application of special gel to combat slippery tracks. In the autumn, mechanics at the maintenance locations worked 24 hours a day to repair ‘square wheels’ (flat spot damage). Following the storm on 23 February 2017, we have been working since 2017 with a special timetable in the event of storms. In December we ran a modified timetable for two days due to winter weather. On one of those days, the Dutch meteorological office KNMI gave a code ‘red’ weather warning for the whole of the Netherlands.