NS plays a monopoly with the railways, everyone wants to participate, but NS remains the boss.
The week ended with a serious shooting incident at the station in Zwolle, which broke the peace on Saturday evening. Around 21:50 p.m., the emergency services received a report that led to the deployment of several police cars and ambulances. The exact circumstances were initially unclear. It later emerged that the suspect had shot into the air on Lübeckplein and fled to the central station. Here a confrontation took place with other people. The police arrested the suspect and seized a firearm or similar item. An intensive trace investigation at and around the station followed.
This week also brought to light the issue of accessibility of taxi transport for people with physical disabilities. Despite good overall reviews, there was a fuss after one notification at the consumer program Radar. A traveler in a mobility scooter was refused when boarding an Avan taxi via the wheelchair lift. Avan emphasizes that this decision is based on strict safety regulations, whereby the mobility scooter must be placed in the taxi by the driver and the traveler must board independently.
The Dutch cabinet has decided to renew the concession of the Dutch Main Rail Network (HRN) until the end of 2033 assigning to the Dutch Railways (NS). State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management announced this, despite opposition about the lack of expansion in the North and the discussion about a peak tax. The NS remains responsible for domestic services, with the exception of the international route to Brussels. This decision was taken despite a letter from the European Commission expressing concerns about transparency and competition within the Dutch railway network.
In response to the problems in student transport, the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) has guide released. This document, developed in collaboration with sector experts, provides guidelines and advice for the organization of this transport. The aim is to increase efficiency and effectiveness and better meet changing legal requirements and local needs.
Brabant business transport is entering a new era now that Ambutax and Willems Business Cars are visible together under the new name Vemo.
In response to the growing demand for better regional and international train connections, a large-scale redevelopment of Eindhoven Central station is planned. The collaboration between Movares and ProRail promises improved infrastructure for the region, with plans for two additional platform tracks and adjustments to the existing rail infrastructure.
Censys BV from Eindhoven reports a significant growth in the number of taxi connections in Flanders. This growth is largely due to increased enforcement activities and the mandatory connection to the Chiron journey database. The increased support for French-speaking entrepreneurs and the required Dutch language test for drivers in Brussels are some of the most important developments in this sector.
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has published a report on the accessibility of Dutch public transport for people with disabilities. It investigation report emphasizes that accessibility in public transport is a fundamental right. Despite the Administrative Agreement on Public Transport Accessibility 2022-2032, there are still significant challenges, especially with combination trips.
