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==National Railway System==
==National Railway System==
===National Railway Operator===
===National Railway Operator===
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (https://www.ns.nl/en NS]) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including:
[https://www.ns.nl/en Nederlandse Spoorwegen] (NS) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including:
* NS Reizigers - Domestic passenger services  
* NS Reizigers - Domestic passenger services  
* NS International - International passenger services.
* [https://www.nsinternational.com/en ''NS International''] - International passenger services.
   
   
[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] services to the Netherlands are operated by a stand-alone company owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%); NS is not a partner.  
[https://www.eurostar.com/''Eurostar''] services to the Netherlands are operated by a stand-alone company owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%); NS is not a partner.  


There is no longer a national freight operator. The former NS freight operation has been sold and is a subsidiary of DB Schenker (see below). Open access freight operators have a considerable market share. Some of the more important freight operators currently seen on Netherlands tracks are DB Schenker Rail Nederland, ACTS Nederland, ERS Railways, Rotterdam Rail Feeding and Captrain Benelux (SNCF).
[https://www.europeansleeper.eu/''European Sleeper''] is a Dutch private company offering night services from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin and Prague.
 
There is no longer a national freight operator. The former NS freight operation has been sold and is a subsidiary of DB (see below). Open access freight operators have a considerable market share. Current freight operators in The Netherlands as at 2023 are DB Cargo Nederland (German), Lineas Nederland (Belgian), LTE Netherlands (Austrian), Captrain (French) and RTB Cargo German) amoungst others.


==Language==
==Language==
Line 25: Line 27:


===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
* PC: [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information Travel Information].
* PC and smartphone: [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information Travel Information].
* Smartphone: [http://m.ns.nl/planner.action?lang=en m.ns.nl/planner.action?lang=en].  
* Iphone application: [https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/ns/id370362301 Reisplanner].
* Iphone application: [https://itunes.apple.com/nl/app/ns-reisplanner-xtra/id370362301?mt=8 Reisplanner].
* Android application: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ns.android.activity&utm_source=ns&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rpxpagina Reisplanner]
* Android application: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ns.android.activity&utm_source=ns&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rpxpagina Reisplanner]
* Windows application: [https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9wzdncrdmbbm Treinplanner]
* Windows application: [https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9wzdncrdmbbm Treinplanner]
===Actual Train Times===
* [https://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Actuele spoorkaart Nederland]
*[https://treinenradar.nl/ Treinenradar Live]


===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
[http://www.ns.nl/reisinformatie/download-dienstregeling Download dienstregeling] > ''Voor een compleet overzicht'' > ''Trajectnummers nn t/m nn'' (where nn represents the range of table numbers. Timetable PDF's are available only in the Dutch version.
By December 2023, NS no longer produces timetables in pdf format on its website.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
''Treinreiziger'' offers a paper [https://treinwebshop.nl/product/spoorboekje-2019/ ''Spoorboekje''] for 2018-2019.  NS discontinued paper timetables after the 2009-2010 edition.
''Rover'' offers a paper [https://www.ovshop.nl/shop/rover-spoorboekje-2024/ ''Spoorboekje''] for 2023-2024.  NS discontinued paper timetables after the 2009-2010 edition. Rover took the publication over from Treinreiziger.


===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/current-situation-on-the-tracks The current situation on the tracks].
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/current-situation-on-the-tracks The current situation on the tracks].
[https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/maintenance-on-the-tracks/ An overview of scheduled works in the upcoming months that will effect services].


===Real Time Train Information===
===Real Time Train Information===
Real time train running information is available on the [http://treinenradar.nl/ ''Treinenradar''] and  [http://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Spoorkaart] websites.
Real time train running information is available on the [http://treinenradar.nl/ ''Treinenradar''], [https://treinposities.nl/ ''Treinposities''] and  [http://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Spoorkaart] websites. Moreover, public transport Apps like OV9292 and NS Reisplanner offer real time journey information.


==Maps==
==Maps==
===Printed Maps===
===Printed Maps===
*[https://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas]: France & Benelux by M.G. Ball (4 April 2016) ISBN: 978-0-9932457-6-3
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball.
*[https://www.europeanrailwayatlas.com European Railway Atlas] by M.G. Ball (1 May 2016) ISBN 978-0-9932457-8-7
*[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1  | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball.
*A basic diagrammatic [https://www.treinreiziger.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Spoorkaart-2021-v2.pdf Rail Map 2021] by Treinreiziger.nl
*A fourth edition of the [https://nijverepublishers.nl/en/Books-and-maps/Benelux-Rail-Topo Benelux Rail Topo] was published in 2023 (ISBN/EAN 978 90 73280 19 9). In full colour to a scale of 1:550,000 and with a register of over 1,000 stations.


===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*NS provides a [https://www.ns.nl/binaries/_ht_1541689522035/content/assets/ns-nl/dienstregeling/nieuwe-dienstregeling/spoorkaart-2019.pdf map with all train services and their frequencies].
*NS publishes a [https://nieuws.ns.nl/download/99a90bb4-da90-4e0b-8597-b5343701f39b/spoorkaart2024.pdf map] with all passenger train service numbers and frequencies.  
*NS provides a [https://www.ns.nl/binaries/_ht_1544431300550/content/assets/ns-nl/dienstregeling/december-2018/spoorkaart-trajecten.pdf map with all passenger lines and their operators according to timetable numbers].
*Prorail provides a [https://www.prorail.nl/siteassets/homepage/reizen/documenten/spoorkaart-2020-webversie.pdf detailed geographical map].
*Prorail provides a [http://www.prorail.nl/sites/default/files/spoorkaart_prorail_april_2013.pdf detailed geographical map].
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line maps and schematic track diagrams.  Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line maps and schematic track diagrams.  Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_benelux.php Map of Benelux network] Although this remains on-line, the Büker maps are no longer being maintained. Last updated November 2011.
*Thorsten Büker's [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/netherlands_belgium_luxembourg.html Map of Benelux network] Last updated January 2023
*[[Maps and Plans#Netherlands|Maps and Plans - Netherlands]]


==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
All stations are equipped with ticket machines which all accept debit and credit cards (V PAY, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express). However, some foreign Visa debit cards are not accepted. Some machines accept coins as well. All machines offer domestic tickets and some provide international tickets to Belgium, and a selection of destinations in Germany. All tickets contain a chip to validate your ticket. Booking offices at small stations have almost all been closed. A surcharge is payable at booking offices when buying a ticket which is available from a ticket machine.
As of 2023, paying public transport journeys by debit card (check-in and check-out) has been introduced. Once every 24 hours the journeys are collected. However, buying tickets from vending machines is still possible. Transport companies offer reduced fairs via their mobile applications (Android and iOS). More information via [https://ovpay.nl/en OVpay]
 
All railway stations are equipped with ticket machines which all accept debit and credit cards (V PAY, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express). However, some foreign Visa debit cards are not accepted. Some machines accept coins as well. All machines offer domestic tickets and some provide international tickets to Belgium, and a selection of destinations in Germany. All tickets contain a chip to validate your ticket. Booking offices at small stations have almost all been closed. A surcharge is payable at booking offices when buying a ticket which is available from a ticket machine.


The smart card [https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/home-1.htm OV Chipkaart] is the normal ticket on public transport and can be bought at any ticket machine. Machines that add value to an OV Chipkaart accept debit cards issued outside the Netherlands. However, only a few machines (such as at some tobacconists) accept credit cards. Paper tickets continue to be issued from machines and booking offices for rail journeys.
The smart card [https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/ OV Chipkaart] is the normal ticket on public transport and can be bought at any ticket machine. Machines that add value to an OV Chipkaart accept debit cards issued outside the Netherlands. However, only a few machines (such as at some tobacconists) accept credit cards. Paper tickets continue to be issued from machines and booking offices for rail journeys.


Information on tickets and passes can be found on the NS [https://www.ns.nl/producten/en/losse-kaartjes-toeslagen Individual tickets & supplements] page. A supplement is required to travel on the HSL between Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport unless the passenger has a valid international ticket (which includes Interrail). The supplement can be purchased from vending machines. At platforms are dedecated red coloured validating machines for supplement tickets.
Information on tickets and passes can be found on the NS [https://www.ns.nl/producten/en/losse-kaartjes-toeslagen Individual tickets & supplements] page. A supplement is required to travel on the HSL between Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport unless the passenger has a valid international ticket (which includes Interrail). The supplement can be purchased from vending machines; there are red validation machines for such supplements on the platforms.


'''Note''': ALL tickets from machines MUST be touched in and out with ALL operators used in the correct order, when changing operators en-route. Travellers may be fined if they do not do this.
'''Note''': ALL tickets from machines MUST be touched in and out with ALL operators used in the correct order, when changing operators en-route. Travellers may be fined if they do not do this.
Line 69: Line 79:


''Special offers:''
''Special offers:''
Supermarket chains may offer cheap day tickets from time to time for a limited period. At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport both NS and GVB Amsterdam sell tickets for public transport connections to Amsterdam.[https://www.spoordeelwinkel.nl/product/eindhoven-airport NS-Voordeelwinkel] has special offers for Eindhoven Airport. [http://www.treinreiziger.nl/ Treinreiziger] offers news about the Dutch railwaysystem, including the availabillity of discounted tickets.
At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport both NS and GVB Amsterdam sell tickets for public transport connections to Amsterdam. [http://www.treinreiziger.nl/ Treinreiziger] offers news about the Dutch railwaysystem, including the availabillity of discounted tickets.


==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
Line 84: Line 94:


===Electrification===
===Electrification===
1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Zevenaar (- Emmerich (Germany)) are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz; Zevenaar - Emmerich was converted to 25 kV in 2016 so that freight trains have to change voltage only once. The Hanzelijn is not officially a high-speed line, so is 1500 V dc. Large-scale conversion to 25 kV 50 Hz in the long term was envisaged but this was abandoned in the late 1990s as too expensive. In 2014 Prorail started a feasibility study into upgrading to 3000 V dc.
1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Zevenaar (- Emmerich (Germany)) are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz; Zevenaar - Emmerich was converted to 25 kV in 2016 so that freight trains have to change voltage only once, although it caused passenger trains to have to change voltage twice. The Hanzelijn is not officially a high-speed line, so is 1500 V dc. Large-scale conversion to 25 kV 50 Hz in the long term was envisaged but this was abandoned in the late 1990s as too expensive. In 2014 Prorail started a feasibility study into upgrading to 3000 V dc.
Metros and Tramways are 750 V dc, with third rail used on the Amsterdam and Rotterdam metros.


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
Line 93: Line 104:
* from Maastricht to the Belgian border
* from Maastricht to the Belgian border


There are connections between the high speed line and the old line to Breda where they run parallel south of Lage Zwaluwe. The two southbound lines are adjacent, and linked by a long crossover.  The connection between the northbound lines crosses over all four tracks on a flyover.
There are connections between the high speed line and the old line to Breda where they run parallel south of Lage Zwaluwe, at which the two lines are handed in opposite directions. This results in the two southbound lines (which are adjacent) being linked merely by a long crossover whereas the connection between the northbound lines crosses over all four tracks on a flyover.


===Distances===
===Distances===
Line 99: Line 110:


==Other Railways==
==Other Railways==
Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over NS lines, thus:
Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over Prorail lines, thus:
* Arriva Nederland: Leeuwarden - Harlingen, Leeuwarden - Stavoren, Leeuwarden - Groningen, Groningen - Roodeschool/Eemshaven/Delfzijl, Groningen - Veendam/Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D), Apeldoorn - Zutphen, Zutphen - Winterswijk, Winterswijk - Arnhem, Arnhem - Tiel, Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond - Maastricht/Heerlen, Luik (B) - Maastricht - Heerlen - Kerkrade/Aachen (D).
* Arriva Nederland: Leeuwarden - Harlingen, Leeuwarden - Stavoren, Leeuwarden - Groningen, Groningen - Roodeschool/Eemshaven/Delfzijl, Groningen - Veendam/Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D), Apeldoorn - Zutphen, Zutphen - Winterswijk, Winterswijk - Arnhem, Arnhem - Tiel, Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond - Maastricht/Heerlen, Maastricht Randwijck - Heerlen - Kerkrade/Aachen (D).
* Abellio (part of NS): Gouda - Alphen aan den Rijn, Arnhem - Emmerich (D).
* Blauwnet (Arriva/Keolis): Enschede - Almelo - Mariënberg, Kampen -​ Zwolle - Emmen, Zutphen - Hengelo - Oldenzaal.
* Blauwnet (Arriva/Keolis/Syntus): Enschede - Almelo - Mariënberg, Kampen -​ Zwolle - Emmen, Zutphen - Hengelo - Oldenzaal.
* Breng: Doetinchem - Arnhem.
* Breng: Doetinchem - Arnhem.
* Q-Buzz (R-Net): Dordrecht - Geldermalsen; Gouda - Alphen aan den Rijn.
* Valleilijn (Connexxion): Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen.  
* Valleilijn (Connexxion): Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen.  


In addition next cross border services are operated:  
In addition cross-border services are worked by the following operators:  
Keolis: Oldenzaal - Bielefeld(D),
* eurobahn: Hengelo - Bielefeld (D) (RB61); Venlo - Düsseldorf - Hamm (D) (RE13)
DB Regio: Enschede - Gronau - Münster / Dortmund
* DB Regio: Enschede - Gronau - Münster / Dortmund (D)
Regiobahn: Venlo - Düsseldorf - Hamm (RE13)(D),
* VIAS Rail: Arnhem - Düsseldorf (D) (RE19)  
NMBS: local services Roosendaal - Antwerpen (B)
* NMBS: local services Roosendaal - Antwerpen (B); Maastricht - Luik / Liège (B)


The German based Bentheimer Eisenbahn owns and operates its trunk line from Bentheim to the border at Laarwald and a further 2 km on to Coevorden. The line is freight only; there has never been any significant border crossing passenger traffic, but freight has regained importance in recent times. Coevorden effectively serves as a German rail bridgehead into the Netherlands, traffic mainly consisting of containers that are subsequently road-hauled into the northern provinces.
The German based Bentheimer Eisenbahn (BE) owns and operates its trunk line from Bentheim to the border at Laarwald and a further 2 km on to Coevorden. The line is freight only; there has never been any significant border crossing passenger traffic, but freight has regained importance in recent times. Coevorden effectively serves as a German rail bridgehead into the Netherlands, traffic mainly consisting of containers that are subsequently road-hauled into the northern provinces. There are plans to introduce passenger services between Coevorden and Neuenhaus (D), operated by BE, by 2024.


==Tourist Lines==
==Tourist Lines==
Line 118: Line 129:


Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line:
Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line:
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://grenzland-draisine.eu/de/&usg=ALkJrhjmVbKpWvild_3Gij1RKZm46b3XxA Grenzland Draisine]: based at Kranenburg in Germany, on the former Kleve [DE] - Nijmegen [NL] line, the ''Grenzenlose'' trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way) covers a portion in the Netherlands   
*[https://grenzland-draisine.eu/ Grenzland Draisine]: based at Kranenburg in Germany, on the former Kleve [DE] - Nijmegen [NL] line, the ''Grenzenlose'' trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way) covers a portion in the Netherlands   
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Frailpleasure.nl%2Fspoorfietsen%2F&edit-text= Rail Pleasure]: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory)
*[https://www.spoorfietsen.nl Spoorfietsen]: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory)


==Metro==
==Metro==
[http://www.gvb.nl/ENGLISH/Pages/default.aspx Amsterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en.html Rotterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travelling-with-the-ret/timetable/metro.html Randstad: Den Haag / Hoek van Holland – Rotterdam].
[https://www.gvb.nl/en Amsterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/ Rotterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travelling-with-the-ret.html RandstadRail].


Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].
Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].


==Trams==
== Trams/LRT-Systems ==
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht.
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht.


Track plans for all tram systems in the Netherlands are available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].
Track plans for all tram systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].


See also [[Netherlands_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Netherlands - Tram services over obscure routes]]
See also [[Netherlands_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Netherlands - Tram services over obscure routes]]


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and Future Changes==
===Future changes===
===Future changes===
Infrastructure manager ProRail warned in August 2018 that the main line network is ‘almost full’. ProRail said it was ‘running up against the limits’ of its 7 300 track-km network, pointing out that traffic had grown from 129 million train-km in 2004 to 165 million train-km planned for 2019. It added that there would be ‘little point’ in trying to add more infrastructure as there was ‘no room for that’ across the country.


Particular challenges include a marked increase in freight traffic, with 8% more trains expected to run next year compared to this. A major constraint is the amount of stabling and depot space around the network; ProRail says that this shortage at ‘several key locations’ must be ‘quickly addressed’. It expects to begin offering stabling and shunting ‘as a service’ in future in an attempt to optimise use of the facilities available.  
In the period June - December 2024 the Eurostar Service Amsterdam/Rotterdam - London will be cancelled due to infrastrudture works.  
In the direction London - Rotterdam/Amsterdam the Eurostar Service might continue.


Some capacity relief will be provided by the launch of more IC Direct inter-city passenger services over the HSL-Zuid high speed line, which ProRail says will release paths on the conventional network for local trains. Infrastructure work between Amsterdam and Utrecht will also allow ICE services into Germany to be accelerated by 3 min, releasing some capacity.  
The direct ICE service Amsterdam - Basel will cease to exist by 15 July 2024.


Looking ahead, the infrastructure manager believes that more capacity can be squeezed out through the deployment of intelligent timetabling tools, particularly aimed at freight trains which often require short notice paths or changes to booked workings. From 2020, the national working timetable will be specified to the nearest 6 sec rather than whole minutes, which ProRail believes will ‘help it better deliver the public timetable’.
The outcome of a feasibility study to resume passenger services between Veendam and Stadskanaal will be published in the course of 2024.  


Extensive works are under way or recently completed to increase line capacity. These include realignment and quadrupling of lines and construction of flyovers at junctions. Electrification of Nijmegen - Venlo should be completed by 2020.
The Bentheimer Eisenbahn from Bad Bentheim (DE) to Coevorden, which was reopened in 2019 as far as Neuenhaus (DE), is to be reopened through to Coevorden. An invitation to tender has been issued for a start date in either June or December 2026.


The (Rotterdam -) Schiedam Centrum - Hoek van Holland line closed on 1 April 2017 is to reopen as Metro line B, Hoek van Holland - Nesseland. A 1.6 km extension from Hoek van Holland Strand to a new terminus near the beach was planned to open later with timescales of September 2017 for reopening of the former and early 2018 for the latter. As at August 2018, the European Rail Timetable newsletter claimed it will not open until early 2019 [http://corporate.ret.nl/nieuws/nieuwsbericht/uitloop-werkzaamheden-hoekse-lijn-tot-najaar-2018.html The RET website] for further information.
Works for the electrification of Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond will start by mid 2025 and should be finished by late 2027.  


On 10 October 2017, the coalition government agreed plans to reopen Weert - Hamont, with co-financing from regional authorities, following the reopening of Neerpelt - Hamont by SNCB. On 9 November the governments concluded an agreement to electrify the line.
The new 'Friesenbrücke' bridge, facilitating the passenger traffic Groningen - Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D) should be constructed by late 2024.


The "Iron Rhine" freight line between Roermond and Dalheim (Germany) is planned to reopened for traffic between Antwerpen and the Ruhr. However this has been delayed by a dispute between the Dutch and Belgian governments, which has gone to arbitration.  
Long term projects:
On 10 October 2017, the coalition government agreed plans to reopen and electrify Weert - Hamont.
On 5th of October 2023, the outcome of a feasabillity study has been published, which prefers to establish a 3KV trainconnection Weert - Antwerpen run by NMBS. No decission has been taken yet.
 
The "Iron Rhine" freight line between Roermond and Dalheim (Germany) is planned to reopened for traffic between Antwerpen and the Ruhr. However this has been delayed by a dispute between the Dutch and Belgian governments, which has gone to arbitration.


===Recent changes===
===Recent changes===
Work started in April 2018 to electrify Landgraaf - Herzogenrath (Germany), with electric Maastricht - Heerlen - Aachen services starting in December 2018. The Heerlen - Aachen service had been reduced to Heerlen - Hertzogenrath from 13 December 2015.


The 'Intercity Direct' service between Amsterdam and Brussel/Bruxelles (the successor to the former Benelux service) was diverted via the HSL Zuid and Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018, thus opening for passenger traffic the curve southwards from Breda towards the Belgian border.
On 25 May 2023, [https://www.europeansleeper.eu/en European Sleeper] started to operate a night service from Brussel/Bruxelles via Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin. From March 2024, this service will be extended to Praha.


Work to adapt Rotterdam Centraal station to accommodate Eurostar services (principally security screening) was completed on 26 March 2018.
RET Metro line B has been extended by 2.6 km from Hoek van Holland Haven to a new Hoek Van Holland Strand station, 0.9 km beyond the previous NS Strand station. Regular services commenced on 31 March 2023.


The ca 700 m branch to the existing Roodeschool terminus closed 5 January 2018. The new station on the currently freight only Eemshaven branch opened 8 January 2018. Passenger services were extended to Eemshaven on 28 March 2018, using a newly built  short branch built to the Borkum ferry passenger terminal.
Landgraaf - Herzogenrath (Germany) has been upgraded for cargo traffic in September 2022, while Arriva EMUs are running between Aachen Hbf and Maastricht since the electrification in 2018. The planned through Arriva service between Aachen and Liège via Maastricht will start in the 2nd half of 2024 now the Arriva FLirt EMUs have been certified in Belgium.  


Electric services between Zwolle and Kampen started on 10 December 2017. Electrification of Zwolle - Almelo was completed in October 2016 and Syntus introduced electric trains from 10 December 2017.
The last museum trains to use the Blauwkapel Kruispunt, where the line northwards from the ''Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum'' at Utrecht Maliebaan station makes a flat crossing with the Utrecht - Amersfoort line, ran on 14 May 2022. The north - south link at Blauwkapel has since been removed. This does not affect the shuttle trains between Utrecht Centraal station and the museum, which continue to run.  


The previous viaduct section through Delft was replaced by a 3,400 metre long tunnel section on 1 March 2015
By December 2021 Zürich - Amsterdam NightJet services were introduced, complementing the Wien - Amsterdam services which started on 25 May 2021.


The new 6.75 km Maasvlakte-West - Maasvlakte II (Euromax-terminal) "Buitencontour" line entered service at the end of 2012. The 50 km-long Hanzelijn connecting Lelystad and Zwolle opened on 9 December 2012. It uses Alstom's ATB system and Atlas signalling system, which is compatible with the ERTMS Level 2 standard.
The (Rotterdam -) Schiedam Centrum - Hoek van Holland ''Hoekse Lijn'' line closed to passengers as an NS line on 1 April 2017 and reopened as RET Metro line B between Nesselande and Hoek van Holland on 30 September 2019, thus bringing a new connection into use between Schiedam Centrum metro station and Schiedam Nieuwland. Until the line onwards to Hoek van Holland Strand was opened on 31 March 2023, RET trains temporarily used the old Hoek van Holland International Boat Train platforms.


The Hemboog curve opened in 2003, providing a direct connection between the Zaandam and Schiphol lines. The Utrechtboog curve opened in 2006, providing a direct connection between the Utrecht and Schiphol lines and bypassing Duivendrecht station to the southwest. Zuidbroek to Veendam (Groningen province) passenger service started in December 2011.  
The former passenger connection between the Metro and the ProRail/NS network has been retained for freight. From 28 November 2019, cargo trains have run to Vlaardingen Oost, where there is a connection to the Vulcaanhaven oil terminals.


The Betuwe line trunk freight railway from Rotterdam to Emmerich opened for traffic in June 2007 but in mid 2008 was still only seeing limited use. Since October 2008 it is fully operational with 4 paths per hour each way.
The new station of Lansingerland-Zoetermeer on the NS Den Haag to Gouda line opened on 9 December 2018 and the extension to tram line 4 (RandstadRail4) from Zoetermeer Javalaan to the new station opened on 19 May 2019.


The Sloelijn, a new electrified freight line to the Vlissingen port area, branching off the Roosendaal-Vlissingen main line near Lewedorp, opened 8 October 2008, replacing a former local line retained for this traffic.
The 'Intercity Direct' service between Amsterdam and Brussel/Bruxelles (the successor to the former Benelux service) was diverted via the HSL Zuid and Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018, thus opening for passenger traffic the curve southwards from Breda towards the Belgian border.


Randstadrail is a new light rail system connecting the tramways of Den Haag and the Rotterdam metro. The Den Haag CS - Leidschendam-Voorburg - Rotterdam Hofplein/Zoetermeer line has been removed from the national rail network.  Hofplein has closed and the light rail vehicles operate in a tunnel to Rotterdam Centraal station.  A branch has been added to the Zoetermeer line, to Javalaan, and is being extended further to 'BleiZo' tram/train station by December 2018.
===Older Changes===
For details of older changes see [[Netherlands - Older General Information]].


NS Hispeed launched Amsterdam - Rotterdam passenger services, branded as Fyra, over HSL-Zuid on 7 September 2009, using electric locomotives and rakes of ICR coaches at a maximum speed of 160 km/h as an interim solution. Trains are initially running from Amsterdam Centraal, pending a switch to Amsterdam Zuid once its development has progressed further. This service has since been extended to Breda, using the high speed line to south of Lage Zwaluwe. Thalys services were diverted onto HSL-Zuid from 13 December 2009, running at up to 160 km/h between Schiphol and Rotterdam and at 300 km/h from south of Rotterdam to Antwerpen. 300 km/h running with ERTMS level 2 on the Rotterdam - Schiphol section started in December 2010. The high speed Fyra service, using the much delayed V250 electric units, finally started revenue earning service between Amsterdam and Rotterdam  on 29 July 2012. The service to Antwerpen and Brussels, due to start in December 2011, started on 9 December 2012. However, Fyra international services had to be withdrawn due to technical problems with the V250 units. As replacement, the former Benelux service (IC-Brussel) via Roosendaal has been reintroduced and rebranded as 'Intercity Direct' albeit now diverted via Brussels Airport. This was further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.
==Special notes==
Many trains worked by multiple units split en route to serve more than one destination. External displays may show the destination of each portion; newer train sets are provided with internal displays as well. The number of each unit is displayed prominently in each carriage and when trains divide public address announcements usually refer to these to inform passengers where each unit is going.
 
The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium.


The Utrecht - Amsterdam-Bijlmer section has been upgraded to 4 tracks. The Woerden - Harmelen - Utrecht section has been upgraded to 4 tracks, apart from the bridge over the Amsterdam-Rhine canal at Utrecht. Utrecht - Houten Zuid has been upgraded to 4 tracks.
'''New trains'''


In summer 2009 NS experimented for 5 days with "no timetable" operation on the Amsterdam - Eindhoven line, running 6 IC trains, 6 stopping trains and 2 freights per hour. No problems were encountered, so it will be repeated over a 4 week period in September 2010 but, unlike in 2009, with no extra staff or rolling stock rostered to cover any problems. Any further development of this concept is at a standstill owing to lack of finance.
NS has ordered 79 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for use on the HSL by 2023.  


Arriva took over operation of the Zutphen - Winterswijk, Zutphen - Apeldoorn, Arnhem - Winterswijk and Arnhem - Tiel lines from Syntus/NS and of Zwolle - Emmen from NS in December 2012. In 2013 Arriva took over Almelo - Mariënberg from Connexxion.
NS has ordered 20 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Brussels by 2025.


==Special notes==
NS has ordered 10 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Germany by 2027.
Many trains worked by multiple units split en route to serve more than one destination. External displays may show the destination of each portion; newer train sets are provided with internal displays as well. The number of each unit is displayed prominently in each carriage and when trains divide public address announcements usually refer to these to inform passengers where each unit is going.


The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium.
NS has ordered double deck Intercity EMUs at CAF, for services by 2028.


'''Wifi'''
'''Wifi'''


Most stations have free internet access via KPN hotspots. NS Intercity trains have free internet by 'Wifi in de trein' provided by T-mobile, other operators like Arriva and Veolia offer free wifi in their trains. The Beneluxservice Amsterdam-Brussels  v.v. is not provided with wifi.
Most stations have free internet access via KPN hotspots. NS Intercity trains have free internet by 'Wifi in de trein' provided by T-mobile; other operators like Arriva and Veolia offer free wifi in their trains. However loco hauled services are not provided with wifi.


==See also==
==See also==
{{Navbox Netherlands}}
{{Navbox Netherlands}}
[[Category:General Information]]

Latest revision as of 11:24, 17 March 2024

Country Name

Netherlands (Nederland)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including:

  • NS Reizigers - Domestic passenger services
  • NS International - International passenger services.

Eurostar services to the Netherlands are operated by a stand-alone company owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%); NS is not a partner.

European Sleeper is a Dutch private company offering night services from Brussels via Amsterdam to Berlin and Prague.

There is no longer a national freight operator. The former NS freight operation has been sold and is a subsidiary of DB (see below). Open access freight operators have a considerable market share. Current freight operators in The Netherlands as at 2023 are DB Cargo Nederland (German), Lineas Nederland (Belgian), LTE Netherlands (Austrian), Captrain (French) and RTB Cargo German) amoungst others.

Language

Dutch

Currency

Euro

UIC code

Numeric 84; alpha NL

Timetable

As of 14 December 2014, every station should be served twice an hour.

Journey Planner

Actual Train Times

Downloadable Timetable

By December 2023, NS no longer produces timetables in pdf format on its website.

Printed Timetable

Rover offers a paper Spoorboekje for 2023-2024. NS discontinued paper timetables after the 2009-2010 edition. Rover took the publication over from Treinreiziger.

Engineering Information

The current situation on the tracks. An overview of scheduled works in the upcoming months that will effect services.

Real Time Train Information

Real time train running information is available on the Treinenradar, Treinposities and Spoorkaart websites. Moreover, public transport Apps like OV9292 and NS Reisplanner offer real time journey information.

Maps

Printed Maps

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

As of 2023, paying public transport journeys by debit card (check-in and check-out) has been introduced. Once every 24 hours the journeys are collected. However, buying tickets from vending machines is still possible. Transport companies offer reduced fairs via their mobile applications (Android and iOS). More information via OVpay

All railway stations are equipped with ticket machines which all accept debit and credit cards (V PAY, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa and American Express). However, some foreign Visa debit cards are not accepted. Some machines accept coins as well. All machines offer domestic tickets and some provide international tickets to Belgium, and a selection of destinations in Germany. All tickets contain a chip to validate your ticket. Booking offices at small stations have almost all been closed. A surcharge is payable at booking offices when buying a ticket which is available from a ticket machine.

The smart card OV Chipkaart is the normal ticket on public transport and can be bought at any ticket machine. Machines that add value to an OV Chipkaart accept debit cards issued outside the Netherlands. However, only a few machines (such as at some tobacconists) accept credit cards. Paper tickets continue to be issued from machines and booking offices for rail journeys.

Information on tickets and passes can be found on the NS Individual tickets & supplements page. A supplement is required to travel on the HSL between Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport unless the passenger has a valid international ticket (which includes Interrail). The supplement can be purchased from vending machines; there are red validation machines for such supplements on the platforms.

Note: ALL tickets from machines MUST be touched in and out with ALL operators used in the correct order, when changing operators en-route. Travellers may be fined if they do not do this.

NS-Zonetaxi (formerly known as treintaxi) tickets include a taxi from/to the railway station for a fixed fare. The service is available in most mid-size towns, but not in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Den Haag and Rotterdam. When riding on single or return tickets, trein-taxi tickets should be bought at the departure station. For the return trip by taxi, tickets are best bought in advance, but the taxi driver sells tickets with a small surcharge.

Although more local services are to be franchised over the next few years, a uniform ticketing system, including NS and all franchisees, is being retained.

Special offers: At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport both NS and GVB Amsterdam sell tickets for public transport connections to Amsterdam. Treinreiziger offers news about the Dutch railwaysystem, including the availabillity of discounted tickets.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

ProRail owns and manages the NS infrastructure and is responsible for traffic control and capacity allocation, under the authority of the minister of transport. On 1 July 2015 the operation of the Betuweroute was transferred to ProRail and the previous owners, Keyrail, ceased to exist.

Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport, part of the Ministry of Transport, is responsible for safety and rolling stock certification.

Network Statement

The Prorail Website gives access to various NS Network Statement documents.

Gauge

Standard.

Electrification

1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Zevenaar (- Emmerich (Germany)) are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz; Zevenaar - Emmerich was converted to 25 kV in 2016 so that freight trains have to change voltage only once, although it caused passenger trains to have to change voltage twice. The Hanzelijn is not officially a high-speed line, so is 1500 V dc. Large-scale conversion to 25 kV 50 Hz in the long term was envisaged but this was abandoned in the late 1990s as too expensive. In 2014 Prorail started a feasibility study into upgrading to 3000 V dc. Metros and Tramways are 750 V dc, with third rail used on the Amsterdam and Rotterdam metros.

Rule of the road

Right, but most lines are reversibly signalled. The following lines have left-hand running:

  • the high speed line from Rotterdam Lombardijen (where there is a flying crossover) to the Belgian border
  • the fast lines between Utrecht Centraal and Bilthoven; there is a flying crossover west of Bilthoven
  • from Roosendaal to the Belgian border
  • from Maastricht to the Belgian border

There are connections between the high speed line and the old line to Breda where they run parallel south of Lage Zwaluwe, at which the two lines are handed in opposite directions. This results in the two southbound lines (which are adjacent) being linked merely by a long crossover whereas the connection between the northbound lines crosses over all four tracks on a flyover.

Distances

Wikipedia gives distances for all lines in the Netherlands. Click on the line wanted, and on the right distances for stations are given. Sporeneplan provides an alternative source. Click on the line wanted to reach a schematic line plan, alongside which distances for stations (named in abbreviated code) are given. Neither is an official page and can be out of date. If any user can point to an official source for distance information the compilers would be glad to hear.

Other Railways

Private operators have franchises to work a number of local passenger services over Prorail lines, thus:

  • Arriva Nederland: Leeuwarden - Harlingen, Leeuwarden - Stavoren, Leeuwarden - Groningen, Groningen - Roodeschool/Eemshaven/Delfzijl, Groningen - Veendam/Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D), Apeldoorn - Zutphen, Zutphen - Winterswijk, Winterswijk - Arnhem, Arnhem - Tiel, Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond - Maastricht/Heerlen, Maastricht Randwijck - Heerlen - Kerkrade/Aachen (D).
  • Blauwnet (Arriva/Keolis): Enschede - Almelo - Mariënberg, Kampen -​ Zwolle - Emmen, Zutphen - Hengelo - Oldenzaal.
  • Breng: Doetinchem - Arnhem.
  • Q-Buzz (R-Net): Dordrecht - Geldermalsen; Gouda - Alphen aan den Rijn.
  • Valleilijn (Connexxion): Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen.

In addition cross-border services are worked by the following operators:

  • eurobahn: Hengelo - Bielefeld (D) (RB61); Venlo - Düsseldorf - Hamm (D) (RE13)
  • DB Regio: Enschede - Gronau - Münster / Dortmund (D)
  • VIAS Rail: Arnhem - Düsseldorf (D) (RE19)
  • NMBS: local services Roosendaal - Antwerpen (B); Maastricht - Luik / Liège (B)

The German based Bentheimer Eisenbahn (BE) owns and operates its trunk line from Bentheim to the border at Laarwald and a further 2 km on to Coevorden. The line is freight only; there has never been any significant border crossing passenger traffic, but freight has regained importance in recent times. Coevorden effectively serves as a German rail bridgehead into the Netherlands, traffic mainly consisting of containers that are subsequently road-hauled into the northern provinces. There are plans to introduce passenger services between Coevorden and Neuenhaus (D), operated by BE, by 2024.

Tourist Lines

A list of Tourist & Museum Railways and Tramways in English is available on the Historisch Railvervoer Nederland (HRN) website.

Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line:

  • Grenzland Draisine: based at Kranenburg in Germany, on the former Kleve [DE] - Nijmegen [NL] line, the Grenzenlose trip to Groesbeek (5.5 km one way) covers a portion in the Netherlands
  • Spoorfietsen: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory)

Metro

Amsterdam, Rotterdam, RandstadRail.

Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the Gleisplanweb site.

Trams/LRT-Systems

Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Utrecht.

Track plans for all tram systems in the Netherlands are available on the Gleisplanweb site.

See also Netherlands - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and Future Changes

Future changes

In the period June - December 2024 the Eurostar Service Amsterdam/Rotterdam - London will be cancelled due to infrastrudture works. In the direction London - Rotterdam/Amsterdam the Eurostar Service might continue.

The direct ICE service Amsterdam - Basel will cease to exist by 15 July 2024.

The outcome of a feasibility study to resume passenger services between Veendam and Stadskanaal will be published in the course of 2024.

The Bentheimer Eisenbahn from Bad Bentheim (DE) to Coevorden, which was reopened in 2019 as far as Neuenhaus (DE), is to be reopened through to Coevorden. An invitation to tender has been issued for a start date in either June or December 2026.

Works for the electrification of Nijmegen - Venlo - Roermond will start by mid 2025 and should be finished by late 2027.

The new 'Friesenbrücke' bridge, facilitating the passenger traffic Groningen - Bad Nieuweschans - Leer (D) should be constructed by late 2024.

Long term projects: On 10 October 2017, the coalition government agreed plans to reopen and electrify Weert - Hamont. On 5th of October 2023, the outcome of a feasabillity study has been published, which prefers to establish a 3KV trainconnection Weert - Antwerpen run by NMBS. No decission has been taken yet.

The "Iron Rhine" freight line between Roermond and Dalheim (Germany) is planned to reopened for traffic between Antwerpen and the Ruhr. However this has been delayed by a dispute between the Dutch and Belgian governments, which has gone to arbitration.

Recent changes

On 25 May 2023, European Sleeper started to operate a night service from Brussel/Bruxelles via Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Berlin. From March 2024, this service will be extended to Praha.

RET Metro line B has been extended by 2.6 km from Hoek van Holland Haven to a new Hoek Van Holland Strand station, 0.9 km beyond the previous NS Strand station. Regular services commenced on 31 March 2023.

Landgraaf - Herzogenrath (Germany) has been upgraded for cargo traffic in September 2022, while Arriva EMUs are running between Aachen Hbf and Maastricht since the electrification in 2018. The planned through Arriva service between Aachen and Liège via Maastricht will start in the 2nd half of 2024 now the Arriva FLirt EMUs have been certified in Belgium.

The last museum trains to use the Blauwkapel Kruispunt, where the line northwards from the Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum at Utrecht Maliebaan station makes a flat crossing with the Utrecht - Amersfoort line, ran on 14 May 2022. The north - south link at Blauwkapel has since been removed. This does not affect the shuttle trains between Utrecht Centraal station and the museum, which continue to run.

By December 2021 Zürich - Amsterdam NightJet services were introduced, complementing the Wien - Amsterdam services which started on 25 May 2021.

The (Rotterdam -) Schiedam Centrum - Hoek van Holland Hoekse Lijn line closed to passengers as an NS line on 1 April 2017 and reopened as RET Metro line B between Nesselande and Hoek van Holland on 30 September 2019, thus bringing a new connection into use between Schiedam Centrum metro station and Schiedam Nieuwland. Until the line onwards to Hoek van Holland Strand was opened on 31 March 2023, RET trains temporarily used the old Hoek van Holland International Boat Train platforms.

The former passenger connection between the Metro and the ProRail/NS network has been retained for freight. From 28 November 2019, cargo trains have run to Vlaardingen Oost, where there is a connection to the Vulcaanhaven oil terminals.

The new station of Lansingerland-Zoetermeer on the NS Den Haag to Gouda line opened on 9 December 2018 and the extension to tram line 4 (RandstadRail4) from Zoetermeer Javalaan to the new station opened on 19 May 2019.

The 'Intercity Direct' service between Amsterdam and Brussel/Bruxelles (the successor to the former Benelux service) was diverted via the HSL Zuid and Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018, thus opening for passenger traffic the curve southwards from Breda towards the Belgian border.

Older Changes

For details of older changes see Netherlands - Older General Information.

Special notes

Many trains worked by multiple units split en route to serve more than one destination. External displays may show the destination of each portion; newer train sets are provided with internal displays as well. The number of each unit is displayed prominently in each carriage and when trains divide public address announcements usually refer to these to inform passengers where each unit is going.

The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium.

New trains

NS has ordered 79 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for use on the HSL by 2023.

NS has ordered 20 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Brussels by 2025.

NS has ordered 10 EMU 'Intercity New Generation' at Alstom, based on Coradia platform for services to Germany by 2027.

NS has ordered double deck Intercity EMUs at CAF, for services by 2028.

Wifi

Most stations have free internet access via KPN hotspots. NS Intercity trains have free internet by 'Wifi in de trein' provided by T-mobile; other operators like Arriva and Veolia offer free wifi in their trains. However loco hauled services are not provided with wifi.

See also