The NS is taking an important step towards sustainable mobility with the introduction of zero-emission buses as replacement transport during train work or disruptions.
For the first time in the Netherlands, electric coaches are being used on the route between Amersfoort Central Station and Zwolle. Three companies, Gebo Tours, Kupers Touringcars and Betuwe Express, have deployed their electric buses today, thus starting a new era for replacement train transport. This initiative was set up in collaboration with Transvision and is seen as a milestone in the sustainability of public transport.
Laurens van Remortele, director of Transvision, emphasizes the importance of this new development. “We are extremely driven to actually take steps in the transition to zero-emission transport,” he says. Tim van Leeuwen, director of Operational Control at NS, also expresses his enthusiasm about this new form of sustainable replacement transport. “At NS, we like to be at the forefront of offering sustainable mobility. This applies to our trains, of course, but if they are unexpectedly unable to run, it also applies to replacement bus transport. We hope that these three buses will lead to more and are curious to know what our passengers think of electric coaches during work,” says Van Leeuwen.
green power
Public transport in the Netherlands has become much more sustainable in recent years. The NS trains already run on 100 percent green energy, and more and more electric vehicles are also being used in regular public transport, such as city and regional buses. However, this is relatively new territory for the coach sector. These electric coaches will be used as much as possible in the event of malfunctions or work, but for now it remains a trial. The experiences that companies and passengers gain with the buses will contribute to the decision to further expand this form of transport.
Not only electric coaches are being tested as an alternative to traditional replacement bus transport. A trial is also being started with hydrogen buses. The Royal Jan de Wit Group will be using a hydrogen coach from October when it organises bus transport for the NS. According to Walter de Wit, owner of the Royal Jan de Wit Group, the application of hydrogen technology in private bus transport is uncharted territory. “With this trial, we want to find out whether hydrogen is a good alternative to fossil and biofuels in the long term, given the specific nature of private bus transport, in which no day has the same deployment pattern of buses and drivers,” De Wit explains.
Hydrogen vehicles are increasingly being mentioned as a promising alternative to electric vehicles, mainly because of their short refueling times and long range. In passenger transport, experiments with hydrogen buses have been going on for some time, especially on routes where it is difficult to use electric vehicles due to the long distances and limited charging options. This technology could therefore also offer a solution for coach transport, where long distances are covered every day and the deployment pattern of vehicles can be very irregular.
broader vision
The trial with both electric and hydrogen coaches fits within a broader vision of NS and the partners to realize completely zero-emission bus transport. In the long term, fossil fuels must disappear completely from public transport and alternatives such as electricity and hydrogen will become the norm. This also ties in with the broader objectives of the Dutch government, which is striving for completely emission-free public transport in 2030. Whether this ambition will become reality depends partly on the results of trials such as this one.
Passengers are encouraged to share their experiences with the new coaches, as this can provide valuable insights for the further development of zero-emission bus transport. NS and its partners hope that this step will not only make a positive contribution to the environment, but also to the travel experience of passengers. With a focus on comfort and sustainability, the new coaches promise to be a modern and environmentally friendly solution for train passengers who have to rely on alternative transport during disruptions or works.
