Rail Freight Cancellations in Rotterdam
Rail freight cancellations in Rotterdam due to winter weather
Railfreight.com report that due to severe winter weather that freight trains have not been able to depart the port of Rotterdam for three days. The article shows that instead of the usual 100-130 trains to/from the port of Rotterdam per day, the number fell to 2 or 3 arrivals/departures between the 7th and 9th February due to heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures.
The problem is due to frozen points (switches) as the lines in the port area. On this part of the network they have not installed the more winter-proof WIRAS switches.
Prorail published a graphic indicating (red, yellow, green) which sidings for which terminals were inaccessible.
Consequently there have been complaints from railway companies about the disruption, the lack of available information, and the lack of priority given to the freight sector.
Read article on Railfreight.com
A similar situation was reported for the Port of Hamburg: