We’ve all noticed that the train system here is seemingly fragile, not least when a dusting of snow starts to fall. But why is that? In fact, why is everything else crumbling as well?
As usual, the answer lies in the money.
Currently sitting in a 40-kilometre stretch of standstill traffic? Let’s break down the breakdown. 👇
Firstly, how are the trains falling victim to snow?
Speaking with RTL Nieuws, associate professor of Public Transport at Delft University of Technology, Niels van Oort, explains the train chaos.
According to van Oort, the fortifications required to make trains in the Netherlands snow-and frost-resistant are wildly expensive and could cost up to a billion euros.
As the heavy snowfall we’ve been seeing lately only occurs every five or so years, this would be quite the financial undertaking for potentially very little reward.
And we all know the Dutch aren’t big spenders.
Who decides?
Ultimately, like most things, this is a political decision.
The railways in the Netherlands are a public service, and any investment decisions would require political backing to authorise the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to spend that money.
And, once again, the decision to invest millions of euros could be difficult to justify given the infrequency of frost and snow, especially in recent years.
If you asked the train-goers, though, you might get a different answer.
Was it always like this?
Short answer: no.
Winters here have been getting milder compared to fifty years ago, but bizarrely, this has not translated into less chaos during the rare snowy winters.
This is due to the changing travel and transport needs of the Netherlands.
Reinier van den Berg, a former weatherman, explains to AD that the country is simply much busier these days. More trains are required to run, as more people need to travel.
When the infrequent but beautiful snow flurries arrive, the impact is larger; more lives are affected, and more discontent is voiced.
So even though there’s less snow and ice, the scale of disruption when things inevitably go wrong can make it seem like the chaos has only been worsening in recent years.
More than just trains
The snow affects more than the railways. As you may have noticed, roads are also treacherous, and traffic jams are plentiful during the snowy periods.
READ MORE | Code orange as 10 cm of snow brings the Netherlands to a standstill (yet again)
Far fewer buses are running, too.
But why? In the end, it’s a similar issue to that with the trains. The sheer amount of cars, trucks, and delivery vehicles on the roads makes smooth travel impossible in harsh weather.
The unavoidable increase in traffic incidents results in more traffic delays for more people than before.
But can’t they just salt the roads?
You’d think the tried and true solution of salt would help, right? Alas, once again, it’s not that simple.
While there is apparently a significant stockpile of salt available in the Netherlands, it’s difficult to replenish the roads.
In the past freezing temperatures might have persisted throughout the day. But now? The snow is melting.
This means any salt treatments get swept away with the water, and workers have to start from scratch.
Why is Schiphol frozen?
And as we have all seen on social media, Schiphol Airport also crumbles into chaos at the first fall of snow.
Surprisingly, though, it’s not a lack of knowledge or tools that prevents planes from taking off in the cold.
Speaking with de Volkskrant, Joris Melkert, a senior lecturer at Delft University of Technology, explains that airports simply don’t find it worthwhile to keep the staff and equipment needed to tackle the snow readily available, since snow and ice are so rare.
But hey, at least the staff can build some snowmen to keep us entertained.
@bachelier92 ☃️☃️☃️. #amsterdam #flight #schipolamsterdam #flightcanceled ♬ sonido original – Música_Clásica
So there’s no solution?
We didn’t say that. There is, of course, a solution.
Stay home, crawl into bed, and watch the pretty snow fall outside your window.
And hey, feel free to send your boss this article as proof that there really is no way to get to work.
How have you been affected by the transport stoppages? Let us know in the comments below!
