The NS wants to pass Maarheeze station from now on, because there is too much nuisance from asylum seekers from the asylum seeker center in Budel. The railway company is threatening this in a letter to the House of Representatives, the Telegraaf reports. According to the NS, the safety of staff and travelers can no longer be guaranteed.
In the letter, in the hands of The Telegraphit states that the NS has been suffering from nuisance and aggressive behavior at and around the station for a long time. This is often caused by a changing group of residents of the asylum seeker center in Budel, the NS notes.
Measures were already taken some time ago to ensure that staff and travelers feel safer. There is extra security and cameras. Two years ago, train drivers said that they wanted to pass Maarheeze station from now on, because they had to deal with nuisance from asylum seekers almost every day.
READ ALSO: NS drivers want to pass Maarheeze after inconvenience caused by asylum seekers
The NS has been in discussions for some time with Minister Marjolein Faber, State Secretary Chris Jansen, the police, the province and the municipality of Cranendonck. But according to the railway company, no structural solution has yet emerged from those discussions. The measure is therefore full.
If there is no solution from the government, the NS will feel forced to stop security measures at the station. “This creates the situation that from a safety perspective we can no longer serve Maarheeze station,” the letter states. The NS calls it an undesirable situation, but points out to the House of Representatives that the safety of travelers and staff comes first.
Bus drivers also threatened
This would not be the first time that a carrier has stopped providing services in Maarheeze. In February 2023, bus operator Hermes canceled the stops near the asylum center in Budel. There were also daily incidents involving residents of the asylum seekers’ center on the buses. For example, people did not want to pay for a ticket and bus drivers were regularly threatened and spat at.
READ ALSO:
Agents on the train to prevent nuisance from asylum seekers
Stabbing at Maarheeze station: ‘We have to carry out preventive searches again’
Bus no longer stops at Budel asylum seekers’ center, drivers threatened and spat at