Rotterdam-Delft train line crippled by arson: What expats need to know about the disruption and potential sabotage

If you rely on the train between Rotterdam and Delft, expect no service until at least Sunday night – and possibly into Monday morning. An arsonist struck a technical room near the Delfshaven railway bridge early Saturday, cutting through cables and bringing the busy line to a standstill.

What happened?

At around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, 10 October, a fire was reported near the Delfshaven bridge, just west of Rotterdam. When a contractor arrived to investigate, they found smoldering cables and a door that had been cut open. ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager, confirmed the fire was deliberate. “It is clear that this was arson and therefore intentional,” a spokesperson told NOS.

The damage is severe: 35 cables were damaged, with 15 completely burned through. That means the signaling and safety systems between Rotterdam and Delft Campus are offline. Repairs began immediately but are taking longer than expected. ProRail initially hoped to have trains running again by Saturday evening, but now says work will continue until at least 11 p.m. on Sunday, 11 October. Even then, services may not resume first thing Monday morning — the spokesperson told NU.nl that “I can’t rule out the possibility that the disruption will last longer.”

What does this mean for expats?

If you commute between Rotterdam and Delft — or need to reach Delft Campus for work or study — you’ll need to find alternatives for at least the rest of the weekend and possibly Monday. NS (Dutch Railways) is likely arranging replacement buses, but check the NS app or ProRail’s travel updates for real-time info. The disruption also affects routes to The Hague, since the Rotterdam-Delft line is the main corridor connecting Rotterdam to the Randstad.

Is this sabotage?

Police and the fire department are investigating whether the incident qualifies as railway sabotage — a criminal category that carries heavier penalties. No arrests have been made yet. The timing is notable: in September 2026, train services across the Netherlands were disrupted after pipes and cables were deliberately placed on tracks at more than 35 locations, interfering with signaling systems. Similar sabotage was discovered near Holten, Rijsen, and Teuge. It’s unclear if Saturday’s arson is connected, but the pattern of targeted infrastructure damage raises questions.

What’s being done?

ProRail crews are working to replace the burned cables, a painstaking process that requires testing each connection. The location near the Delfshaven bridge is tricky — it’s a technical room that controls signals for multiple tracks. Until the cables are fully restored, trains cannot run safely.

For now, the advice is simple: check your travel app before heading out, allow extra time, and plan for possible delays into Monday. If you’re an international student at TU Delft or an expat working in Rotterdam, consider working from home if possible.

We’ll update this article when ProRail announces a resumption date. In the meantime, if you have information about the arson, contact the Dutch police.