For example, yesterday there were no intercity trains between Amsterdam and Amersfoort until 11 p.m., and that was the case in the night from Thursday to Friday on the Utrecht-Arnhem, Ede Wageningen-Barneveld South and Utrecht Central-Rhenen routes.
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ProRail says that there will be ‘an extra challenge’ until 1 October due to holiday leave in combination with the understaffing at the traffic control posts. “Of course we do everything we can to prevent it.”
The company has been dealing with a shortage of air traffic controllers for some time and has also been trying to recruit new people for some time. EditieNL reporter Lonneke Haveman himself experienced what it is like to be an air traffic controller.
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ProRail tries to tackle the problems, among other things, by temporarily deploying recently retired people and train traffic controllers who now work elsewhere in the organization at locations where they are badly needed. The recruitment and selection budget has also been increased.
“Our train traffic controllers have been doing everything they can to fill the rosters for some time. They regularly even come to work on a day off if someone unexpectedly calls in sick. That is why we do everything we can to continue their summer holidays. colleagues are pulling out all the stops to prevent train failures as much as possible,” according to the rail manager.
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Travelers’ organization Rover believes that ProRail’s working methods should change. According to them, it is now too vulnerable. “It is impossible to explain to the traveler that if someone breaks down, train traffic comes to a halt,” says director Freek Bos.
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