Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) has taken the decision to temporarily scrap routes across the Netherlands as the company faces staff shortages as part of the country’s growing labour crisis.
In a statement on the company’s website, NS announced changes to its timetable, adjusting the times for the so-called 10-minute trains between Arnhem, Schiphol Airport, and Rotterdam. Starting Monday, June 13, trains on this route will run every 15 minutes instead of every 10 minutes.
While no further changes to the timetable have been announced, NS has warned travellers that they should prepare for more changes to the Dutch public transport system over the summer months. “The effect for travellers will be limited for the time being, but the prospects are not rosy. NS may have to take more measures this summer.”
The company has announced job vacancies for a number of positions, including mechanics and retail workers at train stations, but has confirmed that this decision to scrap some 10-minute trains is a result of a shortage of chief conductors.
NS has already scaled up its recruitment efforts, announcing in May that the company had a total of over 1.100 vacancies available across the country. Changes have also been made to employee contracts in an attempt to make NS a more attractive employer.
“The shortage in the labour market after the coronavirus pandemic is much greater than previously expected by experts,” NS says. “The arrival of new colleagues, therefore, falls far short of expectations.”