Netherlands - General Information: Difference between revisions
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==National Railway System== | ==National Railway System== | ||
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) is the principal passenger carrier, which operates through various subsidiary companies, including: | ===National Railway Operator=== | ||
[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 | * [https://www.nsinternational.com/en ''NS International''] - International passenger services. | ||
'' | |||
[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. | |||
[ | [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 | 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 24: | ||
==Timetable== | ==Timetable== | ||
As of 14 December 2014, every station should be served twice an hour. | |||
===Journey Planner=== | ===Journey Planner=== | ||
* PC: [ | * PC and smartphone: [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information Travel Information]. | ||
* | * Iphone application: [https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/ns/id370362301 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] | |||
===Actual Train Times=== | |||
* [https://spoorkaart.mwnn.nl/ Actuele spoorkaart Nederland] | |||
*[https://treinenradar.nl/ Treinenradar Live] | |||
===Downloadable Timetable=== | ===Downloadable Timetable=== | ||
By December 2023, NS no longer produces timetables in pdf format on its website. | |||
===Printed Timetable=== | ===Printed Timetable=== | ||
''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/maintenance-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 [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#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball. | |||
*[[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=== | |||
*NS publishes a [https://nieuws.ns.nl/download/99a90bb4-da90-4e0b-8597-b5343701f39b/spoorkaart2024.pdf map] with all passenger train service numbers and frequencies. | |||
*Prorail provides a [https://www.prorail.nl/siteassets/homepage/reizen/documenten/spoorkaart-2020-webversie.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. | |||
*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== | ||
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/ 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; 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. | 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. | ||
==Gauge== | ''Special offers:'' | ||
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 Authority=== | |||
[http://www.prorail.nl/ 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. | |||
[https://www.ilent.nl/ 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 [http://www.prorail.nl/vervoerders/network-statement NS Network Statement] documents. | |||
===Gauge=== | |||
Standard. | Standard. | ||
==Electrification== | ===Electrification=== | ||
1500 V dc. New high-speed lines and the Betuwe trunk freight line between Rotterdam and Germany are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz. | 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=== | ||
Right, but most lines are reversibly signalled. The following lines have left-hand running: | 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 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 | * the fast lines between Utrecht Centraal and Bilthoven; there is a flying crossover west of Bilthoven | ||
* from Roosendaal to the Belgian border | * from Roosendaal to the Belgian border | ||
* 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, 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=== | |||
[https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_spoorlijnen_in_Nederland Wikipedia] gives distances for all lines in the Netherlands. Click on the line wanted, and on the right distances for stations are given. [http://www.sporenplan.nl/html_nl/sporenplan/ns/ns_nummer/start.html 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== | ==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 [http://www.railmusea.nl/en Historisch Railvervoer Nederland (HRN)] website. | |||
Rail cycling is possible on the following sections of line: | |||
*[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://www.spoorfietsen.nl Spoorfietsen]: Hengelo - Twekkelo (a short stretch of Hengelo - Boekelo line, latterly serving AKZO factory) | |||
==Metro== | ==Metro== | ||
[ | [https://www.gvb.nl/en Amsterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/ Rotterdam], [https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travelling-with-the-ret.html RandstadRail]. | ||
==Trams== | Track plans for all metro systems in the Netherlands are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. | ||
== 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 [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. | |||
See also [[Netherlands_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|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. | 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, [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. | |||
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== | ==Special notes== | ||
| Line 118: | Line 193: | ||
The freight line to Terneuzen is accessible only from Gent in Belgium. | 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== | ==See also== | ||
{{Navbox Netherlands}} | |||
[[Category:General Information]] | |||
Revision as of 12:24, 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
- PC and smartphone: Travel Information.
- Iphone application: Reisplanner.
- Android application: Reisplanner
- Windows application: Treinplanner
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
- European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
- 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 Rail Map 2021 by Treinreiziger.nl
- A fourth edition of the 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
- NS publishes a map with all passenger train service numbers and frequencies.
- Prorail provides a detailed geographical map.
- 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 Map of Benelux network Last updated January 2023
- Maps and Plans - Netherlands
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.
