PUBLIC TRANSPORT CURRENTLY
DUO: Robbert Dijkgraaf tackles public transport fines with a new pass
The core of the case revolves around the problems surrounding the student travel product and the fines imposed on students who do not cancel their travel product in time after their entitlement has expired. Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science has…
RailConnect: from frustration to innovation
Rover, NS and outgoing State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (Infrastructure and Water Management) announced this afternoon that Jouke van Campenhout, Senior Consultant at Deloitte Real Estate, has won the Traveler's Gift competition with the idea 'RailConnect'. In the past year, the Dutch Railways (NS)…
Train Treasures: NS is fully committed to sustainability with a pop-up upcycle shop
From train bench to handbag, the unique upcycle store opened its doors. Sustainability and reuse are becoming increasingly important in our society, and the Dutch Railways (NS) is responding to this with an innovative concept: the NS Upcycle Shop at Rotterdam Central Station.…
Turbo Plan 2030: freight transport by intercity smart move or pathetic?
While the idea may seem surprising or ambitious, it is not an April Fool's joke. The concept of passenger trains also used for freight transport, as described in the Turboplan 1, may initially seem unusual or even impractical, which is why the suggestion…
High fines: government draws a line at barriers
The judge can then impose a fine of 160 to 2.000 euros and revoke the driver's license for eight days to five years. Ignoring closed level crossings remains a serious problem in the Netherlands and Belgium, despite many awareness campaigns and the clear dangers...
Rush hour transport breaks records and public transport beats the car in urban race
“Public transport is more important than you think.” In today's society, where sustainability and efficiency are increasingly high on the agenda, public transport plays a crucial role in the mobility of cities. Nico van Paridon, strategist for new mobility and innovation,…
Wage battle on the railway brings FNV and NS back to the negotiating table
Henri Janssen, director of FNV Spoor, has emphasized that although the negotiation result contained positive aspects, it also included several “pain points” that cannot be overlooked.
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Travelers sidelined in the new era of NS Samenreiskorting
Rover sees no point in creating even more obstacles for NS passengers. The Dutch Railways (NS) are introducing a change to the system for the Samenreiskorting, which, according to the organization, is intended to simplify the scheme and prevent abuse...
Carnival joy ends in rail drama and an injured driver
Collision on level crossing between train and carnival float. An accident disrupted the revelry in Berghem late on Sunday evening, where a collision between a train and a carnival float completely paralyzed train traffic between Oss and Wijchen. The sprinter, which was carrying a hundred passengers at the time…
Efficiency and sustainability are of paramount importance to urban transporters
In order to arrive at a good performance comparison, ACM looks at the aspects of cost efficiency and effectiveness of the transport companies GVB, RET and HTM. A recent performance analysis by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has shed light on the efficiency and…
NS is aiming high with a historic change in the timetable
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…
NS calls on travelers to come up with the ultimate travel gift
A competition for a better train experience and your chance to influence. Dutch Railways (NS) has launched a unique challenge for train travelers: come up with the ultimate traveler's gift. With a budget of 1,5 million euros, NS is looking for innovative ideas to...
Financial nightmare for Hermes due to check-in system failure
For Hermes, the disruption is a new setback in an already difficult period. A software malfunction in the check-in system of Hermes, the bus operator in South-east Brabant, has led to a significant loss of income. Since last Sunday morning, travelers have been unable to…
NS and unions agree on pay increases and menstrual leave
According to Henri Janssen, director of FNV Spoor, the agreement reached is significant, but it is up to the members to assess whether the collective labor agreement deal meets their expectations. After intensive negotiations, the unions and the management of the Dutch Railways…
Travelers are complaining en masse about new bus services
Many complaints about the new bus operator. “Either they don't show up, or they're just late. You have to take that into account,” said a traveler in front of the camera at RTV Oost. Travelers in various regions of the Netherlands express their…
Vandalism costs transport companies a lot of money
New Year's Eve leads to destruction in various cities and once again the transport sector pays the price. Transport companies are faced with persistent costs due to vandalism. The deliberate destruction of public property, such as bus shelters and rubbish bins at stops, is a recurring problem. Especially during New Year's Eve and…
ProRail has noticed a decrease in the punctuality of passenger transport
It remains a playing field of complexity of managing a busy and efficient railway network such as that of the Netherlands, and ProRail's constant efforts to meet the challenges and improve the service. The Dutch railways, known…
North/South Line cooperation agreement signed
Just this year, the cooperation agreement was signed between the national government and the region for the exploration of extending the North/South line to Hoofddorp. This project, now known as the 'Amsterdam-Haarlemmermeer Public Transport Connection' (OVAH), is a crucial part of the Multi-Year Infrastructure Program,...
The road to inclusive public transport is still long and bumpy
Equal access to transportation remains a distant dream for people with disabilities. A recently published report from the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights shows the worrying status of public transport (OV) in the Netherlands, especially with regard to…
Eindhoven Central overhauled: bigger, greener, better
Movares and ProRail are exploring ideas for expanding Eindhoven Central station. Train passengers and residents are on the eve of a large-scale redevelopment of Eindhoven Central station. This project, which is part of the MIRT exploration of the public transport hub Brainport region Eindhoven, is a response to…
Bus trips in Brabant remain affordable now that the province is freezing fares for 2024
“It's nice that it will be out of the way for next year,” says Smeulders. “We hope that a new cabinet will come up with more structural solutions to improve our public transport.” Travelers in Brabant can breathe a sigh of relief because the previously announced price increase of…
Companies are on the right track more often and opt for train travel
Business train travel is gaining more and more ground on short distances. The preference for the train among business travelers for destinations within a radius of 400 kilometers is increasing. A recent study by Natuur & Milieu and the Coalition for Different Travel, in which…
NS is taking a big step forward in accessibility at 241 stations
With the recent expansion of travel assistance at Dutch train stations, the Dutch Railways (NS) underlines its commitment to equal travel options for everyone.
NS adjusts timetable to changed travel behavior
The new NS timetable, which will come into effect from December 10, responds to the changed travel behavior after the corona pandemic and takes into account the challenges posed by high inflation. The Dutch Railways (NS) announces an expansion…
No extra late trains for Madonna's concertgoers
Madonna's performance in the Ziggo Dome caused some unrest among concertgoers. Concert organizer Mojo warned visitors in advance about a possible late end time for the show. This was because Madonna herself decides what time she enters the stage. This is how it started…
Taxi drivers may be the new addition to the shortage of bus drivers
From self-driving buses to retrained taxi drivers: where is the solution? The issue of the acute shortage of bus drivers in the Netherlands may have led to an unconventional but potentially effective solution put forward by Henk Meurs, professor of mobility at Radboud University. Meurs…
Six million euros for an innovative transport system in Zeeland
This addresses the inefficiency of large buses that often drive empty and the limited availability of transport in the evenings and weekends. Zeeland, with its vast and sparsely populated area, has long faced challenges regarding…
The outgoing cabinet is allocating 420 million euros to prevent public transport fare increases
Public transport plays a crucial role in keeping the entire country accessible, which is why the government has decided to provide financial support. Good news for travelers in the Netherlands: prices for public transport tickets will…
Society for Better Public Transport demands automatic return of deposit after train chaos in the Randstad
The NS has so far refused to proactively refund, despite the widespread impact of disruptions on travelers. Train passengers in the Randstad recently had to swallow a bitter pill. Not only did train disruptions disrupt their plans, but some found out later...
Leader train slowly says goodbye, but leaves a sustainable trail behind
For now, it's time to say goodbye—not just to a train, but to a piece of Dutch history. He had been a familiar face for almost half a century, the Leader, officially the ICMm. With its characteristic engineer's cabin on top of the train set,…
Shortage of buses cannot serve as an excuse for passenger inconvenience
Progress on track: a week of positive changes in Dutch mobility. In a week marked by major announcements and policy changes, we have reason to be optimistic about the future of mobility in the Netherlands. From controversial decisions…