SCHIPOL, Netherlands (AP) – Over 1,000 passengers were stranded overnight at Amsterdam International Airport on Wednesday as snow and ice caused significant disruptions across Europe, grounding numerous flights and causing traffic chaos on roads and trains.
In Paris, for instance, a skier fell off the snow-covered banks of the Seine, while snow blanketed streets and parks around landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, leading to traffic issues in various regions of France.
Authorities reported a power restoration for thousands of residents in Germany’s capital after four days without electricity due to subzero temperatures, which followed an alleged far-left attack on high-voltage lines. This was a welcome relief for some Berliners amid a cold snap.
At Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, staff set up hundreds of field beds overnight to provide breakfast for weary travelers as they worked on de-icing runways and planes. The airport, one of the busiest in Europe, canceled at least 800 flights on Wednesday.
Sonya Wurmlinger was attempting to return to Argentina when she faced multiple setbacks—her original flight through Düsseldorf was canceled, and a reroute through Paris also fell through. Now, she was considering taking a train to Düsseldorf.
“I came from the train and they said there was no train,” she recounted, pausing to articulate her frustration, “I don’t know.”
KLM, the national airline, noted that airport lines had decreased partly because passengers were informed in advance of the flight cancellations, preventing many from coming to the airport.
Meanwhile, the Dutch rail and road network suffered significant disruptions from fresh snow during the morning rush and more snow squalls later. Railway operator NS urged travelers to “delay your departure if possible,” indicating that reduced train services would be in effect as they faced unexpected challenges from the weather.
Motorists weren’t faring much better; over 700 kilometers (about 435 miles) of traffic jams formed as trucks navigated highways and slow-moving snow plows tried to clear the roads.
In France, Météo France issued snow and black ice warnings for much of the northern and western regions, including Paris. Authorities advised people to stay off the roads and work from home when possible, even halting bus traffic in Paris on Wednesday morning.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarro reported that over 100 flights were canceled at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, with about 40 cancellations at Paris-Orly Airport.
“Due to the accumulation of snow on the tracks, we need to limit train speeds, cancel certain services, and adjust traffic,” French railway company SNCF announced, warning passengers of potential delays caused by the weather. Eurostar services between Paris, London, and Brussels also experienced delays.
Even countries typically resilient to winter weather reported issues as heavy snowfall blanketed parts of Europe. In western Sweden, heavy snow led authorities in Gothenburg to suspend all trams, as accumulated snow from passing trams posed risks for other traffic.
In Finland, diesel buses waiting in the cold faced starting difficulties, and poor driving conditions in the Helsinki area resulted in numerous bus cancellations and delays, according to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation.
