With the introduction of a new timetable, the Dutch Railways (NS) promises a significant improvement for passengers from today: 1600 extra trains per week.
The biggest adjustment in years, as the NS itself describes it, should ensure that the train connections throughout the country better meet the needs of travelers. However, not everyone is equally enthusiastic; travelers' organization Rover has reservations about the plan. One of the most striking changes is the increase in Intercity trains on the route between Eindhoven and Utrecht after 21.00:XNUMX.
Where there used to be two trains per hour, there will now be four. More trains will also run during the weekend, such as extra Sprinters between Den Bosch, Eindhoven and Tilburg University. These adjustments should offer travellers more flexibility, especially in the evenings and at weekends. The NS emphasises that this is only the beginning of a structural expansion of the timetable.
“In 2025, for the first time, more trains will run through our country than in the peak year of 2019,” said a spokesperson. That year is often cited by NS as a benchmark, because it was the busiest year in the company's history in terms of transport capacity. Since then, the corona pandemic and staff shortages have caused a significant drop in the number of trains run.
criticism of the changes
Although the extra trains are welcomed on many routes, Rover is concerned about the disadvantages that come with this change. According to the passenger organization, the new structure is far from optimal. "The poor infrastructure and the shortage of suitable trains remain bottlenecks," says a spokesperson.
Rover points out the consequences for long-distance routes in particular. Travelers between Rotterdam, Zwolle and the north of the country will lose their direct connection to Groningen and Leeuwarden. Travelers from Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam-Zuid to Apeldoorn and further to Twente will also be affected. “Since time immemorial, they have had a transfer-free connection, but in 2025 that will no longer be the case,” says Rover.

NS is sticking to the HSL surcharge. Rover and the other consumer organisations in the LOCOV have advised NS to abolish the surcharge. Due to the poor infrastructure, the trains on the HSL are running slower and not all that much faster than other trains.
With the new timetable, NS is taking a step towards a more ambitious and modern rail network. However, the company still faces challenges, such as the availability of trains and the capacity of the track. Especially in the Randstad and on busy routes, margins remain small, which can complicate the implementation of these plans.
Travelers' organization Rover indicates that the new setup certainly offers advantages, but fears that it means a step backwards for some groups of travelers. In particular, the direct connections, which are disappearing on certain routes, raise questions. Rover also emphasizes that a good timetable also depends on investments in infrastructure, such as extra tracks and better stations.
Traveler as center?
The coming months will show whether the new timetable has the desired effect. Particularly on routes where passengers now benefit from higher frequencies, such as Eindhoven-Utrecht, the adjustment seems to meet a need. At the same time, the question remains whether NS will succeed in keeping its promise: a national network that meets the wishes of the passenger in terms of both numbers and quality.
new concession for NS
The new concession for the main rail network will start on 1 January 2025. The concession will end on Christmas Eve in 2033. NS will operate the vast majority of its trains under the regime of the main rail network concession. This includes the provisions on where NS may operate, the minimum frequency and how many trains may be cancelled. It also contains rules on travel information and accessibility. There was and is a lot of fuss about the new concession. The European Commission believes that the Netherlands is not complying with European rules. NS should not have been given the new concession without further ado. Other carriers such as Arriva and Qbuzz also believe this.