Junior transport minister Sharon Dijksma has told Dutch rail firms NS and ProRail that they must improve the performance of high speed train services to the south of the country.

In particular, the large number of delays are a cause for concern the minister said, adding that the state-owned firms will be fined if they do not improve operations by the end of the year. Their performance is ‘frankly, disappointing’, the minister said in a briefing to MPs.

Dijksma already fined the two firms a combined €2.3m for poor performances in 2016.

In addition, the €2.40 supplement which passengers using the high speed train service between Schiphol airport and Rotterdam is to be scrapped, apart from at peak periods.