Title: Dutch Government Seeks Long-Term Solution to NS Train Fare Hikes
Subheading: State Secretary Chris Jansen Pledges Structural Relief Amidst Planned Fare Increase
Amsterdam, September 7, 2024 – The Dutch government is actively seeking a long-term structural solution to address the planned increase in train ticket prices for NS, the country’s primary railway provider. State Secretary Chris Jansen, responsible for Public Transport and Environment, is committed to mitigating the sharp fare increases anticipated for 2025 and beyond.
Despite a previous intervention by the Rutte Cabinet that allocated €120 million to prevent an immediate hike, NS has announced an additional fare increase of 8.7 percent in 2025, on top of regular inflation adjustments. This could result in rail ticket prices rising by more than 10 percent.
In a letter to Parliament, Jansen expressed his hope for a structural solution that would provide relief for travelers not just in 2025 but in subsequent years as well. He plans to elaborate on this strategy during Prinsjesdag.
The State Secretary acknowledges the previous one-off support as insufficient for a sustainable fix, emphasizing the need to avoid creating undesirable uncertainty for travelers regarding future ticket prices. He has outlined several options for reducing fare increases but has not yet made a final decision.
One of the proposed solutions involves the government annually allocating funds to bridge the gap necessitated by NS’s higher ticket prices, which would amount to €124 million. However, the source of this funding remains unspecified, and it is uncertain if it can be accommodated within the mobility fund of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Another suggestion put forward by Jansen is to negotiate agreements with NS for improved operational efficiency. However, he warns that such agreements might compromise ongoing operations and potentially degrade the level of service for passengers.
NS, which reported a loss of 33 million euros in the first half of 2024, has been impacted by the post-pandemic decline in passenger numbers and the lasting effects of home office policies. A spokesperson for NS expressed gratitude for last year’s government support but emphasized that such one-off measures only delay fare increases.
As the Dutch government grapples with this issue, NS and the State Secretary Chris Jansen are under pressure to devise a sustainable strategy that balances the financial health of the railway company with the affordability of train travel for the public.
NL Times will continue to follow this story as it unfolds.
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