According to ProRail, snow and frost have caused a lot of damage to infrastructure and equipment. During the winter timetable only half of the switches were used; all other switches must first be checked before the normal timetable can start again.
In addition, unused tracks and switches must be made rust-free and yards must be made snow-free and safe.
Flooding, condensation and malfunctions
The thaw also brings new risks, such as flooding, condensation on electrical components and disruptions due to road salt at level crossings.
Regional carriers and freight transport also need to reorganize their equipment and logistics, although regional services are expected to recover more quickly.