[responsivevoice_button voice="Dutch Female" buttontext="read out"]

In its own words, the corona crisis is causing a large loss of turnover at the NS. They estimate that the number of train passengers will only return to the level before the corona crisis in 2025. To date, there is a special basic timetable in connection with the corona crisis. The NS will resume regular schedules from Tuesday 2 June.

"Production costs must be reduced," says Groenewegen. But while maintaining our performance and customer satisfaction. An imperative condition is also that tickets remain affordable ”.

The new regular timetable is based on transporting passengers as safely as possible with the special corona protocol. Green stickers have been placed on the available seats, among other things, so that passengers know where they can and cannot sit. About 40 percent of the seats will be available under the 1,5 meter distance rule. 

In recent months, far fewer passengers have been transported by train because many people worked from home and the schools were also closed. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the number of passengers in April was 90 percent lower than normal.

The NS estimates that they will have lost EUR 4,7 billion in turnover in the next five years. Financial director Bert Groenewegen indicates in NRC that he will not survive without government support. By receiving government support, Groenewegen hopes not to have to lay off staff. According to Groenewegen, the NS will have to downsize and wants to save 2025 billion euros by 1,4. 

The NS does not expect all travelers to return, the number of journeys will remain less, even if the corona crisis has long passed. More people will continue to work from home, meetings will take place via video calling. The corona crisis has shown that working from home works well.

Read also  Train Treasures: NS is fully committed to sustainability with a pop-up upcycle shop

Also read: Taxi sector in Belgium expects bankruptcies and layoffs

Print Friendly, PDF & Email