Next year is shaping up to be a transformative year for the train services in the country, although a few challenges are already in sight, Dutch railway service NS announced yesterday.
This is the biggest change NS has seen in years, which is promising to run 1600 extra trains per week. The new plans and timetable aim to improve connections between the country and to address issues passengers have been facing.
“Train passengers are currently experiencing inconvenience from less available equipment and personnel, speed restrictions and necessary work. Although this new timetable cannot correct all problems on the track, we have still been able to implement a large number of improvements,” said Wouter Koolmees, CEO of NS, in a press release.
The plans
The new timetable will give a greater spotlight to the Dutch high-speed line (HSL) to allow quicker connections within the country, as well as Brussels and Antwerp. Plans to run high-speed line trains to Groningen and Leeuwarden were in the making, but delays in train deliveries and speed restrictions of the HSL have made this impossible to achieve by next year.
Moreover, NS aims to make Rotterdam, The Hague, and Dordrecht accessible via ten-minute sprinters between the respective stations. And if you plan to take a trip abroad, NS has you covered with quicker and easier access to Schipol airport, as well as Brussels. The latter will be possible with a faster connection and double the trains that currently operate these lines.
What does this mean for the North?
The Northern areas of the country, namely Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland, will benefit from additional rush hour journeys and later trains in the evenings. Moreover, travelling to the Randstad area is facilitated with additional late trains on Mondays and Sundays. Notably, the North will remain directly connected to Schipol, although there won’t be any direct trains to Rotterdam from Groningen. Passengers will have to transfer at Gouda or Utrecht. The main changes per region are as follows:
Groningen
- Groningen–The Hague: 6 minutes faster.
- Sunday to Thursday: Last Intercity from Groningen to Zwolle will run half an hour later by adding an extra Intercity to 23:19
- Friday and Saturday: Last Intercity to the Randstad runs at 23:49 instead of 23:26 PM. It will run to both Amsterdam Central Station and Schiphol.
- The first Intercity from Groningen to the Randstad runs one hour earlier on weekdays (05:19).
- Service runs in the evenings Monday to Sunday two late trains from the Randstad to Groningen (departure 23:15 and 00:15) above Zwolle from now on like a fast Intercity. NS operates several additional Sprinters.
- Extra rush hour journey from Assen to Groningen (departure 18:18).
Drenthe
- Assen–The Hague: 6 minutes faster.
- Sunday to Thursday: The last Intercity in Assen from now on, the journey to Zwolle will take half an hour later addition of an extra Intercity at 23:19
- Friday and Saturday evening: last Intercity to the Randstad runs at 23:49 instead of 23:26. It will run to both Amsterdam Central Station and Schiphol.
- The first Intercity from Assen to the Randstad starts working days from now on one hour earlier (05:35).
- Service runs in the evenings Monday to Sunday two late trains from the Randstad to Assen (departure 23:15 and 00:15) above Zwolle from now on as a fast Intercity. NS runs an extra Sprinter.
- Extra rush hour journey from Assen to Groningen (departure 18:18).
Friesland
- Leeuwarden–The Hague: 6 minutes faster
- Extra late Sprinter from Leeuwarden (departure 23:34) to Zwolle.
- NS runs a late train from Leeuwarden (departure at 22:47) to Zwolle and Utrecht on Monday to Sunday between Leeuwarden and Zwolle from now on as fast Intercity instead of stopping everywhere.
- The last Intercity from Leeuwarden to Zwolle runs Monday to Sunday from now on half an hour later by adding an extra Intercity to 23:17
- Various improvements in the Sprinter Leeuwarden–Zwolle–Lelystad. For example:
- Monday through Friday until later in the evening benefit from a half-hourly service to both Leeuwarden (until approximately 21:30) as well as Zwolle and Lelystad (until approximately 21:30).
- Earlier in the morning on weekends with the Sprinter to travel
- An extra late Sprinter from Monday to Sunday from Leeuwarden to Zwolle (departure at 23:34)
Not always smooth railing…
Despite enthusiasm from NS, the railway service provider has not denied that there are significant challenges to shaking up their train systems. Delays in train deliveries and speed restrictions make developing train lines through high-speed lines difficult.
Moreover, such plans mean more work needs to be done on the tracks. To add to this, NS cites a scarcity within the job market as a struggle to put plans smoothly into practice. They hope the continuous focus on recruiting new staff, especially mechanics, will offset this.
Nonetheless, the plans are still open to change, depending on feedback received from regional authorities and NS passengers. The final 2025 timetable will be announced later this year.
