NS advises passengers to travel via a different route or to use buses.
- Leiden Centraal–Utrecht Centraal: passengers can travel around via Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam South. The extra travel time is about 10 minutes.
- Alphen aan den Rijn–Bodegraven:passengers can use NS buses. These run between Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven stations and connect to the train service where possible.
- Alphen aan den Rijn–Gouda:take into account extra crowds, especially during rush hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays, especially between Waddinxveen and Gouda. In the R-Net trains between Alphen a/d Rijn and Gouda, it is not allowed to take bicycles with you during rush hour, in order to make more space for passengers.
Extra measures
Because the work takes nine months and affects many passengers, NS, ProRail, Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, municipalities, province and local partners are jointly taking additional measures. Twenty DOTT e-bikes will be installed at the Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven stations. This gives passengers an alternative to travel between Alphen a/d Rijn station and Bodegraven in addition to the bus. The bikes can be booked via the NS app.
NS will place extra public transport bicycles at the Alphen aan den Rijn and Bodegraven stations. To make travelling between the two places easier, the bikes can be returned to the other station free of charge. The fastest cycle route between the two stations will be via specially placed signs.
In addition, the train between Leiden Central and Alphen aan den Rijn runs four times an hour all day from Monday to Friday instead of twice an hour during off-peak hours.
Driving between Alphen a/d Rijn and Bodegraven four times an hour during the entire periodreplacement NS buses. In addition, a wheelchair accessible bus runs once an hour on this route. When this bus is running can be seen in the NS app.
The transfer from the train between Alphen aan den Rijn and Gouda to the train between Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiden will be on the opposite platform as much as possible during the work, so that passengers can easily transfer.
Travel wise
TheTravel Wisdom apptravellers are encouraged to make conscious travel choices during the work. For example, by cycling, using train replacement transport, carpooling or working from home. Participants earn points for doing so, which can be used to earn gift cards.
Free coffee and tea
In the first week of the work, passengers at the stations Bodegraven and Alphen a/d Rijn will receive free coffee and tea fromStationHuiskamerand Kiosk. Coupons are distributed at Alphen a/d Rijn station and can be returned to the StationsHuiskamers and Kiosks. There is a mobile coffee cart at Bodegraven station.
Preparing properly to travel
NS advises passengers to consult the NS Travel Planner before departure and to take into account additional travel time.
Work
The Gouwespoorbrug is at the end of its service life. During the work, ProRail will replace the supports and the central pillar and the movable part of the bridge will be renovated and reused. During this period, no train traffic is possible over the bridge. After completion, the bridge is less prone to malfunctions and ready for decades of train and shipping traffic. More information about this work can be found on theproRail site.
Source: NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
