Good news, bad news: Dutch rail sees more passengers and better punctuality, but the ride isn't exactly smooth. According to the NS's end-of-year report, more trains were deployed this year, leading to an increase in ridership. But here's where it gets controversial: despite these improvements, travelers still faced significant disruptions and ongoing maintenance woes. Let's dive in.
NS reports that 90.6% of passengers arrived at their destination within five minutes of the scheduled time this year, a slight increase from 89.4% in 2024. Furthermore, over 95% of travelers experienced delays of no more than ten minutes, also a minor improvement.
The rail operator saw a 2.9% rise in passenger numbers compared to 2024, bringing ridership to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This boost followed the launch of a new timetable last December, which added 1,600 trains per week. Interestingly, during off-peak hours, around 30% of train seats were typically occupied.
CEO Wouter Koolmees views these figures positively for the Netherlands and NS. However, he expresses concern about the state of the rail network. "Unfortunately, the infrastructure has exceeded its lifespan in many places, leading to too many disruptions this year. This autumn, our passengers experienced some particularly bad days," he stated, urging the government to increase funding for ProRail, the rail infrastructure manager.
ProRail and NS collaborate on initiatives like 'Betrouwbaar Beter' to enhance performance, yet disruptions remain a common issue. With over 400 major projects scheduled for 2026, ProRail emphasizes the ongoing need for regular maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.
And this is the part most people miss: Concerns are also surfacing in parliament regarding the affordability of train tickets. PVV member of parliament Hidde Heutink predicts that a round trip from Enschede to The Hague could cost nearly 70 euros after NS implements an average fare increase of 6.5% next year. NS refunded 3.6 million euros to passengers last year due to delays. Heutink stated, "The simplest way to save money is to run on time," adding that punctual trains alone wouldn't offset the planned ticket price hikes.
Habtamu de Hoop of GroenLinks-PvdA believes the next government must allocate more long-term funding. "With enough political will, NS ticket prices could be frozen," he said. Dion Huidekooper of D66 inquired about the possibility of increasing "fare differentiation" to better distribute travelers.
What do you think? Are you satisfied with the current state of Dutch railways? Do you agree with the proposed fare increases, or do you believe more investment in infrastructure is the key? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
