Signalling Upgrade Halts Trains Between Rotterdam Centraal and Zwijndrecht
ProRail is replacing an aging signalling safety system that requires removal of switches, forcing a temporary full line closure.
Overview
- Work began early Tuesday 21 July and trains are not running between Rotterdam Centraal and Zwijndrecht while ProRail carries out the upgrade.
- NS and ProRail have deployed replacement transport including buses on the Rotterdam–Dordrecht route and free metro travel via Slinge for NS-ticket holders with special gates at stations.
- International services will be altered: EuroCity services run from Breda to Brussels, Eurostar Paris will run via Utrecht and Antwerp and skip Rotterdam, and Eurostar to London will start from Brussels.
- Reports conflict on the end date with one outlet saying the works run through Friday 24 July and ProRail/Omroep West reporting they continue until 05:00 on Saturday 25 July, so travelers should check live updates from NS or ProRail.
- The upgrade follows a late‑June cable‑duct fire that required repair of about 100 cables and affects a corridor that normally carries roughly 30,000 passengers a day, with additional regional maintenance windows planned in the coming weeks.