A new railway strike has been announced in the Netherlands by the VVMC union, set to begin Friday at 4 AM, disrupting rail services in the north and south of the country. The strike is part of an ongoing dispute over pay negotiations between the union and the state-owned railway firm, NS.

The action follows a previous strike on Tuesday in the Utrecht region, which led to the cancellation of all train services. The NS had initially anticipated a strike on Thursday but stated it would not proceed due to a lack of sufficient notification.

The dispute centers around the union’s demand for compensation for inflation, which they say has not been adequately addressed in the NS’s offer of a 2.55% pay rise. Negotiations have been ongoing for 4.5 months without resolution.

The impact on the entire rail network remains uncertain. The NS had cautioned that services might still be disrupted on Thursday due to preparations already underway in anticipation of the canceled strike.

Tens of thousands of rail users have reportedly submitted claims for reimbursement of travel costs incurred due to the strikes on Friday and Tuesday. Passengers are entitled to claim up to €25 if they were unable to use the train and can provide evidence of alternative transportation, such as bus or taxi fares. Those who used their own cars can claim 23 cents per kilometer.