An international Eurostar train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris was forced to halt Thursday morning south of Rotterdam after smoke was detected in an electrical cabinet on board, NU.nl reports. More than 600 passengers were evacuated from the train and transferred to another train to return to Rotterdam, according to Dutch Railways (NS).
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. near ’s-Gravendeel, close to Dordrecht. Witnesses reported seeing smoke in the rear carriage, prompting the train crew to stop the train as a precaution. The fire department responded with extensive equipment to secure the scene and investigate the cause.
Initially, there was hope the train could continue under its own power. However, restarting and preparing it for safe departure proved too time-consuming, NS spokesperson Anita Middelkoop told NU.nl. “It turned out to take too much time to get the train running again,” she said.
Passengers were transferred to a separate train that transported them back to Rotterdam Central Station. From there, NS and Eurostar staff assisted travelers in arranging alternative connections to reach their destinations.
“Some passengers might still be able to board another train directly to Paris,” Middelkoop told NU.nl. “Others will have to change trains in Brussels. Several trains to Paris depart from there. Unfortunately, their journey will take longer today than they expected this morning. It’s not a pleasant day for these travelers.”
Train traffic on the high-speed line between Rotterdam and Breda was suspended as a result of the incident. It was not clear when the track would reopen to regular service. Other train services were rerouted via Dordrecht.
According to NS, some international trains are taking different routes or ending in Breda instead of Rotterdam. “Passengers on those trains can transfer to other services to continue their trip to Rotterdam,” Middelkoop said.