Ministers need to take action to ensure public transport users are not hit by extreme price rises, Labour MPs said ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s debate with junior transport minister Wilma Mansveld.

In some parts of the country, prices rose by well over 10% and the minister should have the power to intervene, Labour MP Dyco Hoogland told the Telegraaf.

‘Travellers are surprised by the increases but have to pay the bill,’ Hoogland said. ‘The transport companies should explain their reasoning. Public transport is a public service and these companies should also be responsible to the public.’

Smart card

Liberal and ChristenUnie parliamentarians want the minister to shake up the public transport smart card payment system, known as the ov-chipkaart. The system is unnecessarily complicated and public transport firms remain divided over how to share the income, the MPs say.

They want the government to sanction competition so that banks and mobile phone firms can also offer payment cards. CDA and D66 MPs are also positive about the idea, the Telegraaf said.