Dutch Railways (NS) posted losses for the fifth consecutive year in 2024.
Although trains generally ran on time last year, passenger numbers were insufficient to pull the rail operator out of the red. The aftermath of the corona crisis, in which many people permanently switched to working from home, remains a major factor in the disappointing passenger numbers.
Still, there is hope on the horizon. The NS expects that the number of train passengers will be back to the 2030 level in 2019. This optimism is based on population growth and the stimulation of off-peak travel. With new discount promotions and flexible subscription types, the company hopes to entice passengers to take the train more often.
high costs
In addition to the disappointing passenger numbers, NS is faced with sky-high costs to be allowed to use the railway. In 2024, the rail carrier paid 533 million euros to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and to ProRail. This amount was 15 percent higher than in 2023 and is a heavy burden on the company's budget.
Although the NS has not yet made any concrete statements about future price increases, the trend of recent years is clear. Between 2021 and 2023, the price of a train ticket increased by 8,9 percent. In 2024, a planned price increase was postponed by government compensation, but in 2025, travelers could not avoid it: train tickets became 6,18 percent more expensive.
To turn the tide, NS is focusing on discount campaigns for off-peak travel. By offering more favorable rates for off-peak hours, the company hopes not only to increase the number of travelers, but also to better regulate the distribution of passengers. After all, peak hours remain the biggest challenge for rail capacity.
However, the question remains whether this strategy is sufficient to make NS financially healthy again. The costs for maintenance and expansion of the rail network are rising, while the income is still not at the old level. For the traveller, this may mean further price increases in the future, despite the efforts to make train travel more attractive.
The coming years will be crucial for NS. The company must find a balance between affordability for the traveller and the financial health of the organisation. Whether the discount campaigns and expected growth in travellers are sufficient to reverse the losses will only become clear in the coming years.
