NS and Transdev take the next step in the battle for mobility data, with the Rivier acquisition awaiting approval.
NS and Transdev have taken a formal step toward joint control of Rivier B.V. through Reisinformatiegroep B.V., better known as 9292. On January 16, 2026, the parties involved submitted a merger notification to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets. With this notification, they are requesting permission to acquire indirect joint control of Rivier, a company that operates at the intersection of public transport and digital mobility services.
concentration
The notification makes it clear that it concerns NS Groep N.V. and Transdev Nederland N.V., which together want to expand their influence on Rivier via RIG. Reisinformatiegroep acts as the vehicle through which control is obtained. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets will assess whether this concentration could have consequences for competition in the Dutch market for mobility and travel information services.
NS has played a central role in Dutch public transport for many years. The company is the national railway operator and holds the Main Rail Network Concession for the period 2025 to 2033. NS also provides the regional rail connection between Gouda and Alphen aan den Rijn. In addition to rail transport, NS offers various services to consumers and business customers. These include the OV-fiets (public transport bicycle), the NS Travel Planner, the Hely app, and various shared mobility solutions. These activities make NS a broad-based player in the mobility landscape.
modes of transport
Transdev Nederland is part of the international Transdev Group, a mobility company active in public transport and related services. In the Netherlands, Transdev is involved in bus and other transport activities, among other things. Transdev's participation in the proposed concentration is in line with the company's strategy to play a role in integrated mobility solutions that combine different modes of transport.
Reisinformatiegroep B.V. is mainly known to the general public under the name 9292. This platform offers travel information and advice for public transport in the Netherlands and is an important tool for many travelers when planning their journey. In this concentration, RIG acts as the link through which NS and Transdev want to exercise their joint control over Rivier.
B2B platform
Rivier B.V. was founded in 2021 as a fully-fledged joint venture by the public transport companies NS, HTM, and RET. Since then, the company has been working on the development of a technical B2B platform. This platform is designed to connect mobility providers on the one hand and MaaS service providers on the other. MaaS, or Mobility as a Service, focuses on offering various modes of transport via a single digital channel. Rivier is thus positioning itself as a technical hub in a market that is becoming increasingly digitized and in which cooperation between transport operators and service providers is considered essential.
Interested parties will be given the opportunity to respond to the merger notification. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets has indicated that responses may be submitted by parties with an interest in the proposed acquisition. A period of seven days applies. This period commences on the day on which the notification is published in the Government Gazette. Responses must be submitted in writing and must include the case number of the notification. Letters can be addressed to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, Competition Directorate.
The ACM'sassessmentwill focus on whether the joint control of NS and Transdev over Rivier could affect competition within the sector. It will look at market power, potential barriers for other providers, and the effects on innovation and freedom of choice for consumers of mobility services. The outcome of this assessment will determine the further course of the acquisition.
Source: NetherlandsAuthority for Consumers and Markets
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