The Dutch Railways (NS) will significantly expand its timetable, starting Sunday, December 15. More trains will run during peak hours, evenings, and weekends.
This is described as the “biggest timetable change in years.” The number of trains will surpass that of 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trains will run every fifteen minutes between Amsterdam Central, Weesp, and Almere, as well as between Alkmaar and Amsterdam Central and between Utrecht and Woerden.
Some trains will start earlier or run later, such as the early Intercity from Groningen to the Randstad or the late Intercity from Almere to Utrecht. Due to extended works at Amsterdam Central, a Sprinter will depart every 7.5 minutes, stopping at Schiphol, between Hoofddorp, Schiphol, and Amsterdam Central from December 16.
The high-speed line (HSL) remains a challenge due to long-term speed restrictions and delayed delivery of new trains. The NS acknowledges that ongoing issues on the HSL can affect other parts of the Netherlands.
The NS had already stated this summer that the HSL problems were not expected to be resolved quickly. Errors in the construction of railway viaducts have led to strength issues, limiting train speeds to 80 kilometers per hour instead of the intended 300 kilometers per hour until corrections are made.
The new trains, which are delayed, will travel faster, potentially mitigating delays on the high-speed network. The NS is in continued discussions about these issues with ProRail, the rail infrastructure manager.
Source: NOS