NS wants to significantly improve the timetable in 2025 and thus take a major step towards the future. It is the biggest change in years and something will change for many travelers.
The Dutch Railways is on the eve of a historic change in their services. With the intention to run as many as 1600 extra trains per week from next year, it promises to be the biggest change to the timetable in years. This ambitious step, intended to significantly speed up connectivity between regions, has received both support and criticism from the traveling public and advocacy groups.
The expansion plan sees trains running directly on the high-speed line (HSL) from Amsterdam South to cities such as Almere, Lelystad, and Amersfoort for the first time, with the future vision to extend this further to Zwolle, Leeuwarden, and Groningen. This strategic move to give the HSL a more prominent place in the national rail network is seen by the NS as a key component to improve accessibility within the Netherlands. Everything is in the Request for advice Timetable 2025 to regional authorities and traveler organizations, united in LOCOV.
critical
Nevertheless, not everyone is convinced of the feasibility of these plans. Critical voices mainly come from travelers who point out the current challenges that the NS is facing, such as the frequency of delays and disruptions. A traveler expressed his skepticism by emphasizing that the NS must first focus on making the current schedule reliable, especially after recent disruptions caused by defective overhead lines.
“Train passengers are currently experiencing inconvenience from less available equipment and personnel, speed restrictions and necessary work. Although this new timetable cannot correct all problems on the track, we have still been able to implement a large number of improvements. For example, we operate new and faster Intercity trains on the High-Speed Line from Rotterdam to Lelystad and Amersfoort. We run six Sprinters per hour between Rotterdam and The Hague and we run more trains in the early morning and late evening. Step by step, we are making the train an attractive way of traveling for more and more travelers.”
The plans also come at a time when both NS and ProRail, responsible for track maintenance, are facing significant challenges. ProRail has indicated that the railway network is struggling with overdue maintenance, which cannot always be resolved outside regular operating hours. This means that travelers may experience inconvenience due to work in the coming years.
Nevertheless, the announcement has received support from travelers association Rover, which welcomes the return to full timetables for previously scaled-down routes. Trade union FNV Spoor also recognizes the ambition of the plans, but warns about the impact on the workload of NS staff.
finally
Every year, NS asks passenger organizations and regional authorities at the beginning of the year for advice about the timetable that starts in December. NS uses this advice to improve the plans where possible. Rail manager ProRail then examines whether NS's wishes fit on the track, also taking into account the wishes of other passenger carriers and freight carriers. The final timetable will be announced in the autumn.
