If you’re commuting by rail, brace yourselves: no trains will run to or from Amsterdam Centraal this Saturday (October 3), and from October 12, routes between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven will be disrupted for nine months.
Why the sudden shutdown? “We are adapting the station [Amsterdam Centraal] so that there will be more space for travellers and trains in the future,” explains Wai Ko, Construction Manager at ProRail.
Similar work will also be conducted between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven, NS reports, with several routes affected over the following nine months.
Here’s everything to know about the latest wave of Dutch rail disruptions:
Disruptions at Amsterdam Centraal: October 3 to 6
No trains will run to, from, or through Amsterdam Centraal this Saturday (October 3), according to ProRail. In addition, train traffic will be “significantly altered” on October 4 and 5.
Should you have to travel via Amsterdam this Saturday, NS highlights “alternative routes from Amsterdam Muiderpoort, Amsterdam Amstel, and Amsterdam Sloterdijk stations”.
On Monday in particular, you can expect “heavy crowds, especially during rush hour” on routes via Amsterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Muiderpoort/Utrecht Centraal. Your NS ticket will also be valid for use on the metro.
While traffic is expected to resume on Tuesday morning, “no trains will stop at the platform of tracks 13 and 14”.
A bus service will replace the night train between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal during the nights of October 2-3 and October 3-4.
Disruptions between Amersfoort and Apeldoorn: October 12 to 18
Meanwhile, if you travel between Amersfoort Centraal and Apeldoorn, you’ll need to swap the train for the bus from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, October 18.
Over these six days, ProRail will be working on the track between Amersfoort Centraal, Barneveld Centrum, and Apeldoorn, in addition to a stretch between Amersfoort and Putten.
From October 12 to 18, buses will replace your regular trains between Amersfoort Centraal and Apeldoorn. On the weekend of October 17 and 18, buses will also run the regular routes between Amersfoort and Putten, and between Amersfoort Centraal and Barneveld Centrum.
Some trains may also run a modified schedule, so make sure you check your journey planner prior to departure.
No trains running Alphen a/d Rijn-Bodegraven for 9 months
Helaas, commuters travelling between Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven are about to face a rail shutdown from Monday, October 12, 2026, all the way to Tuesday, July 13, 2027.
As the work will span a whopping nine months, the NS has announced some additional measures to aid your commute:
- More frequent trains between Leiden Centraal and Alphen aan den Rijn: The train will now run four times an hour between the two stations, from Monday to Friday, instead of twice an hour during off-peak hours.
- More frequent replacement buses between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven: These buses will also run four times an hour, while a wheelchair-accessible bus runs on this route once an hour.
- More OV-bikes between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven stations: NS is placing additional OV-bikes at the Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven stations, with the aim of providing commuters with an alternative to the bus. The fastest cycling route between the two stations will also be signposted.
- More e-bikes between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven stations: In addition to OV-bikes, twenty DOTT e-bikes are also being placed at the Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven stations. You can book these via the NS app.
- Easier access to transfers: If you’re changing in Alphen a/d Rijn between the Gouda and Leiden trains, your connection will be on the opposite platform wherever possible.
Missed your morning cup of coffee? During the first week of the rail shutdown, commuters between the Bodegraven and Alphen a/d Rijn stations can receive free coffee or tea from StationsHuiskamer and Kiosk.
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