British transport group Virgin submitted a formal plan to take over the operation of high speed train services in the Netherlands to the transport ministry this summer, Nos television reports on Wednesday.

Virgin executives made a presentation to three senior civil servants, outlining their plans to revitalise the financially-troubled service. Virgin has also mooted basing its European headquarters in the Netherlands, Nos says.
Phil Pacey, the director of Virgin Rail’s new projects arm, has also been involved in the takeover efforts. According to Nos, Pacey is concerned about the quality of the Dutch trains, the fact they leave from platform 13 at Amsterdam’s central station, and the pricing structure.
Problems
The Dutch high speed rail network came into service in 2009, three years later than planned and has been beset by difficulties with the trains, speed and shortfall in passengers. Germany’s Deutsche Bahn and France’s SNCF are also interested in taking over the Dutch operations, Nos says.
Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is currently in talks about a rescue plan. A spokesman for the minister told Nos the aim is to find a solution which benefits both travellers and taxpayers.