The introduction of a new night train between Zwolle and Schiphol will once again create competition for NS on the Dutch railways.
In the night from Friday to Saturday the first train of carrier Arriva drove this route and the launch was festively celebrated with a DJ, snacks and drinks. Train enthusiasts and nightlife enthusiasts travelled along to experience the premiere.
The train departed from Zwolle station promptly at 01.21:02.41 and arrived at Schiphol at 03.59:XNUMX. The train then returned via the same route, arriving back in Zwolle at XNUMX:XNUMX. The night train offers a new alternative for night-time travellers, especially those who have to go to the airport or have had a night out in Amsterdam.
The arrival of the new connection is the result of a long-cherished wish of the municipalities of Almere and Lelystad. They have been advocating for a better night train connection for some time, because they believe that the train is an important addition for both travelers and the nightlife public. The route runs via Lelystad and Almere, which means that residents of these cities now have a faster and cheaper way to reach Schiphol and Amsterdam at night.
Since the beginning of 2023, Arriva has been running a night train from Groningen to Schiphol, but now this new connection will be added. In addition, the train will not only run on the night from Friday to Saturday, but also on the night from Saturday to Sunday. With this, Arriva is further expanding its night network and offering travelers an alternative to the NS, which was the only provider of regular night trains.
With the new connection, Arriva hopes to attract a permanent group of travellers. Whether the train will be a success will become clear in the coming months. For now, the interest seems great, and the festive first ride has set the tone.
During the first trip, there were mainly train enthusiasts on board, who did not want to miss the unique opportunity to be the first to use the new connection. The atmosphere was festive, with a DJ playing music and staff handing out snacks and drinks. One of the passengers, who had won the trip through a promotion, was enthusiastic: “I think it is very good, because if people have to fly via Schiphol, they are happy. Or people who have been out in Amsterdam and want to go back home.”
The arrival of this new night train emphasises the growing competition on the Dutch railways. Arriva, which operates under the flag of Deutsche Bahn, has taken several steps in recent years to gain a larger share in train transport. By making use of the so-called 'open access' regulation, the company is allowed to run trains on its own initiative on routes that are not awarded via concessions. This ensures that travellers have more choice in train transport, especially at times when NS does not have a regular timetable.
