GVB - the public transport operator in Amsterdam - has switched to a reduced timetable as coronavirus quarantine rules have left the company battling severe staff shortages.
As of Wednesday, anyone planning to make use of public transport in Amsterdam will have to make sure to double-check the bus times, as GVB is running on an adjusted timetable in order to accommodate the large number of employees who are unable to do their jobs as they are isolating.
So far, the changes only apply to four bus routes (37, 38, 40, and 65), but an additional six services (41, 44, 47, 48, 63, and 66) will run on a modified timetable from Monday. From Saturday, there will also be fewer trams running along six routes in the city (1, 4, 5, 17, 24, and 26).
The quarantine and self-isolation rules put in place by the Dutch government have led to staff shortages across various sectors in the Netherlands, and in spite of the government’s recent relaxation of the quarantine rules, a number of companies and industries continue to face shortages and disruptions.
This week, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) also announced they were struggling to maintain the current timetable as an increasing number of train drivers and conductors have been forced to isolate. As a result, the company is considering cutting some services. Earlier this month, the rail operator announced they had cut the number of trains running throughout the night as a result of reduced passenger numbers.