The train ceases, the Flixbus is already full and yet the exam will continue

On an average weekday, the Dutch Railways count one million in-step and exit movements at the stations. So those are not exactly one million travelers, but it shows how many train journeys will not take place on Tuesday. After the announced strike of the train staff in parts of the country, the NS provided such a disrupted timetable that it has been decided to stop the entire NS train traffic. Travelers should see how they come to work, school or hospital.

The « number-1 alternative » for the train is the Flixbus, says Charles Biliard on behalf of the bus company that offers connections between major cities. In domestic routes, they wrote « double digits » last Friday – when there was also a train strike. But anyone who wants to take the Flixbus to Groningen, Nijmegen or Schiphol on Tuesday fishes behind the net, because all buses are fully booked. Using more buses is not possible, according to the spokesperson. « There had already been scaled up because of the Pinkerster weekend and the strike has been announced too short a day to transport even more people. »

Spend the night with family

For students living at home who live in a different city than where they study, it becomes difficult, says Abdelkader Karbache of the National Student Union LSVB. « They often take the Flixbus, sometimes they are brought by their parents, they leave a day before and spend the night with family. » Incidentally, the student union is behind the actions of the NS staff, he says. « Students benefit from good public transport. »

Nevertheless, it causes discomfort for traveling students, and not all universities or colleges are willing to remove that discomfort. Utrecht University lets the students know in a newsletter that they are simply expected on Tuesday at compulsory lectures and that exams will continue. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in Almere and Zwolle says that the exams will continue, but that students who cannot come will receive an extra resit. Hogeschool Zeeland solved the logistics problems of the train strike on Friday by having the examiners of the Cambridge exam pick up at home. « We have a fleet with electric cars and an employment agency for our students. » Due to the deployment of the student drivers, the Cambridge Engels exam was able to continue.

Arriva does run and during the match of the Dutch national team against Malta, in Groningen, uses extra trains

Other alternatives to get to the destination are the taxi, riding or renting a car. Car rental company Snappcar – a platform on which private individuals offer their car – reports that they have received 50 percent more applications. According to Rayan Kaoutar from Meerdijd Platform BlaBlaCar, there has been ‘significant’ demand from people who want to ride with an unknown, and more than 40 percent supply of private individuals who are willing to take a carpooler with you since the beginning of June. « We expect that next week will be the busiest ever. »

For private individuals who want to join each other without compensation, there is not really a platform, says Guy Raeymaekers of Carpool company Swidg. « There is no online environment where someone can ask today if he can drive to work or hospital tomorrow. Unfortunately, people are still too happy to drive alone in their car. »

The ANWB warns people who step alone or together in the car for a morning file of about 700. « Traditionally, the Tuesday after Pentecost is very busy, » says traffic information spokesperson for the ANWB. « Many Germans still have free and leave massive holiday destination Zeeland back home. And Tuesday and Thursday are the busiest days of the week anyway. »

Dutch team

Football Association KNVB informed the supporters who want to go to the qualifying match of the Dutch national team against Malta on Tuesday evening, the game will be played in Groningen. Travelers are pointed out that Arriva’s trains do run. A spokesperson for Arriva says that « extra bins » are hung on the trains to be able to transport extra passengers. Extra trains will also be used. Incidentally, the KNVB saw no fewer supporters in the stadium – the Juniors played at the Friday’s train strike, also in Groningen. « It was the most visited game ever. »

To share

Mail the editors