If you’re travelling through Utrecht Centraal or the Amsterdam region between now and March 1, the NS has a heads-up for you: expect busier trains, longer journey times, and some routes replaced entirely by buses.
ProRail is widening platform 3 and rerouting track 5 at Utrecht Centraal, and the effects of this will be felt across the national timetable for the next two weeks.
What’s happening this weekend?
From Friday evening (February 20), at 11 PM, fewer trains will run between Utrecht Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal, Utrecht Centraal and Schiphol Airport, and Utrecht Centraal and Arnhem Centraal.
Many trains will also depart from different platforms than usual, so keep an eye on the boards.
The most severe disruption this weekend is between Ede-Wageningen and Arnhem Centraal, where no trains will run at all on Saturday, 21, and Sunday, 22 February. Replacement buses will operate instead.
There will also be no Sprinters between Utrecht Centraal and Utrecht Overvecht this weekend. The NS recommends travelling via Bilthoven as an alternative.
Meanwhile, travellers between Utrecht Centraal and Hilversum are advised to reroute via Amersfoort Centraal.
What about next week?
Let’s start with Utrecht. Firstly, the reduced frequency on the Utrecht–Amsterdam, Utrecht–Schiphol, and Utrecht–Arnhem routes continues through to Friday, February 27.
On top of that, from Monday, February 23, through to Thursday evening, February 26, buses will replace Sprinters between Utrecht Centraal and Maarssen.
From 9 PM, evening buses will serve the Utrecht Centraal–Bunnik route Monday to Friday that same week.
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Now, what about Amsterdam commuters? From Monday, February 24, through to Sunday, March 1, no trains will run between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem. Replacement buses will run instead.
However, alternative routes are available.
Those going between Haarlem and Amsterdam Centraal can travel via Uitgeest, while travellers between Leiden Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal can detour via Schiphol Airport. Anyone travelling between Haarlem and Utrecht Centraal is advised to reroute via Leiden Centraal.
And the weekend after that?
From Saturday, February 28, to Sunday, March 1, no trains will run between Amsterdam Zuid and Schiphol Airport, or between Amsterdam Zuid and Amsterdam RAI.
Instead, travellers on these routes can use the metro between Amsterdam Zuid, Amsterdam Lelylaan, and Amsterdam Sloterdijk.
Anyone needing to get from Utrecht Centraal to Schiphol during this period should reroute via Amsterdam Centraal.
The NS advises checking the NS travel planner shortly before departure, as travel advice can change at short notice. The planner is already showing updated journey options for the full disruption period.
Are you catching a train through Utrecht or Amsterdam over the next two weeks? Share your route in the comments, and let us know if those replacement buses actually turn up on time.
