summer

This might be the last few links I share regarding the heatwave as it's finally over. The heatwave gave way to a thunderstorm over the weekend, which "registered more than 300,000 electrical dishcharges" on Saturday night, that number is "exceptionally high" as thunderstorms rarely reach more than 100,000 electrical discharges, NL Times reports.

As the heat subsides, NS is working to bring trains back to service but reduced service is still expected on Monday and Tuesday. The thunderstorm caused disruption to passenger service but also prevented some trains from moving to the workshop for repairs. ProRail provided updates on repair works done to the track after the thunderstorm that prohibited train traffic between Gouda and Rotterdam, and Gouda and Den Haag. They also commented that there were other small and large disruptions throughout the country that were also being worked on. ProRail did write about the increased thunderstorms in the summer, their effects to the infrastructure and what preventative measures were in place.

The heat hasn't let up, and on Friday KMNI extended their red alert for extreme heat in the Netherlands. NS has also announced a further reduction in Intercity routes, still commenting on the problems using double-decker trains. With equipment needing repairs because of the heat they expect Monday and Tuesday's timetable will also be affected as they wait for trains to be up and running again.

In related news, RTL info and Treinenweb.nl both reported on a Eurostar train travelling from Cologne to Paris via Brussels that came to a standstill just south of Leuven. The train was stranded for approximately two hours before the rescue train arrived, that was apparently to small according to a passenger interviewed by RTL info. Also according to RTL info, Eurostar says the issue was with the overhead catenary and not the train. From the Treinenweb.nl report, three passengers needed to be taken to the hospital as a precaution beacuse of the heat.

Also heatwave related, in the UK, BBC reports cancellations and distruptions of West Midlands Railway (WMR) services as the heat has caused the tracks to buckle.

There are too many heatwave related news reports to link to, so I will leave it at this - for now.