Nederlandse Spoorwegen Rail Network (NS)

Nederlandse Spoorwegen Rail Network (NS)

The hoofdrailnet is the official core internal passenger rail network of the Netherlands. Currently, NS has a concession until 1 January 2025 to provide all passenger services on this network, except that on some stretches there is an overlap with lines for which other operators have a concession. Some of the most notable of these stretches are those from Elst railway station to Arnhem Centraal railway station, where NS shares tracks with Arriva, and further on to Arnhem Velperpoort. Here the tracks are shared by three operators, as Breng, ultimately part of Transdev, operates there in addition to the two previously mentioned operators. Officially the overlaps do not constitute competition on the same lines.

The concession was free of charge until 2009, and costs an increasing amount since then, up to €30 million for the year 2014. The concession distinguishes the main stations and other stations. Except on New Year's Eve, the main stations have to be served at least twice an hour per direction from 6 a.m. to midnight and the other stations at least once an hour. Exceptions are possible until the start of the next concession.

The next concession period is 2025–2035. For the 2015–2025 concession, requirements include: for every train service where on average more than one-third of the passengers travel longer than 30 minutes, a train with a toilet is used, every newly ordered train has a toilet and in 2025 every train has to have a toilet. The last trains on the hoofdrailnet without a toilet were the NS SGMm (the so-called classical "Sprinter", retired 2018–21) and the Sprinter Lighttrain (SLT, these trains have since had on-board toilets retrofitted).

NS Types of Train Service

NS provides three kinds of train service:

1. A Sprinter stops at all stations, and is mainly used for local traffic. On some smaller lines, though, it is the only kind of service. The name is derived from the 'Sprinter' (2900 class) rolling stock, however, the service was sometimes operated using older style rolling stock (such as 'Plan V/T': 400, 500, 800, and 900 class). Since December 2019, all Sprinter services are run exclusively with Sprinter trains.
2. Intercity services only stop at larger stations and were introduced in the 1970s to provide fast train connections throughout the country. Intercity services are operated by DDZ, VIRM and ICM class trains. An exception is the service between The Hague and Eindhoven, which makes use of the high-speed line between Rotterdam and Breda, which is run by modified carriages with TRAXX and the newly built high-speed ICNG. When a line is not served by Sprinters, Intercity trains stop at all stations. This takes place on the lines between Alkmaar – Den Helder, Hoorn – Enkhuizen, Zwolle - Deventer and Deurne – Venlo. Between Vlissingen and Roosendaal, one Intercity does only stop on Intercity stations, while the other stops on all stations. See also Intercity services in the Netherlands and List of Dutch Intercity stations. Keolis also runs one Intercity service an hour, between Zwolle and Enschede, the two largest cities in the province of Overijssel.
3. The Intercity Direct service, which offers faster service between Amsterdam Centraal and Breda as it makes use of the high-speed line HSL-Zuid and calls at only two intermediate stations (Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam Centraal). Unlike other Intercity trains, the Intercity Direct requires payment of a supplement on top of the regular fare (€2.90 during peak hours and €1.74 during off-peak hours) if a passenger's journey involves the high-speed line between Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam Centraal. A regular Intercity service that is free of supplements is still offered. Trains are operated by modified carriages and ICNG.

There are also two former train categories, which are now used only by private operators:

1. Stoptrein (Stopping train): This is the original name for Sprinter trains. Between 2003 and 2013 NS discharged the Stoptrein formula in favour of Sprinter. Private operators do not use Sprinter so this name is still used by NS for private operators, although private operators often use RS, standing for Regionaalsprinter (Regional Sprinter).
2. Sneltrein (Fast train): Sneltrein (in the English section of the old paper time tables, they were translated as "semi fast train" and were a class between Stoptrein and Intercity) was abandoned by NS in 2008. The NS Sneltrein services were not abandoned, but were called 'Intercity'. Over the years, some became Sprinters (like the services between Leiden and Utrecht), while most services were integrated in the Intercity network (like the service between Lelystad and Dordrecht). As of 2024, private operators use the term, along with the from Germany imported term RE, standing for Regionaalexpress (Regional Express).

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen) Overview

NS Locale: Netherlands
NS Dates of Operation: 1938–present
NS Predecessor:
Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij (HSM)
Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen (SS)
NS Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
NS Company Type: State-owned naamloze vennootschap
NS Industry: Rail transport
NS Founded: 1938
NS Headquarters: Utrecht, Netherlands
NS Key People: Wouter Koolmees (CEO)
NS Products: Rail transport, rail construction, services
NS Revenue:
Decrease €5,980 million (2021)
€6,661 million (2019)
NS Net Income:
Increase €116 million (2018)
€47 million (2017)
NS Total Assets:
Increase €7,030 million (2018)
€6,214 million (2017)
NS Total Equity:
Decrease €11,786 million (2021)
€3,477 million (2017)
NS Number of Employees:
Increase 38,600 (2020)
40,978 (2020)
NS Parent: State of the Netherlands
NS Subsidiaries:
Abellio
Nedkoleje
NSRegio (99%)
WestfalenBahn
Nederlandse Spoorwegen