90% of train services do arrive on time??? I take the train every day from Amsterdam to Maarssen and in my experience 90% of the trains do not run on time. I'm really glad someone decided to call NS on their misleading ad campaign!

By Irishman | January 15, 2010 3:56 PM

I have been going to the Hague (from Amsterdam) once a week, on Mondays, since last September, and have always been on time. So most train services run on time, it seems. However, knowing of so many horror stories of trains being stuck somewhere, when I go to the airport to catch a plane (several times per month), I will allow for at least one hour of delay. So far, I have been lucky and have never missed a plane because of a train that got stuck.
The service to Paris, however, has been sucking ever since the Thalys has been introduced, which is now well over ten years ago.
The pay-off of NS should read: 'for someone who wants to be on time 90 percent of the time' - may sound odd, but it would be false to claim or pretend that all trains run on time and that one can safely rely on that.

By Hans | January 17, 2010 3:57 PM

I, too, doubt that 90% of NS trains run on schedule. Here's an idea for a new ad slogan:

NS. We'll get you there. We can't say when, but we'll get you there.

By Tim | January 18, 2010 10:44 PM