MPs shoot down NS peak travel ticket price hike

A majority of MPs have joined backed a motion to stop Dutch railway company NS introducing extra charges for peak period travel.

NS chief Wouter Koolmees had proposed a more expensive peak hour ticket  which he said would spread the number of travellers more evenly throughout the day.  Capacity, he said, exceeded 100% during the morning rush hour but that during large parts of the day trains were “transporting warm air.”

The measure was to be part of the rail company’s contract with the infrastructure minstry which is currently being renewed.

While welcomed by some transport experts, the proposal was slammed by travellers’ organisations and on Tuesday MPs showed their objections by supporting a motion tabled by ChristenUnie MP Stieneke de Graaf.

Caretaker junior infrastructure minister Vivianne Heijnen, who has said NS can “vary” prices, does not have to carry out the motion.

However, a spokesperson for the ministry told the Volkskrant more talks with NS are on the cards, as well as an investigation into other ways of reducing peak period overcrowding.

MPs also demanded other changes, such as more trains servicing the north of the country.

Freek Bos, director of rail users’ organisation Rover, said in a message on social media that the motions had “corrected the ministry’s contract with NS substantially”, and that the focus had shifted towards the interests of travellers.

More train services will be guaranteed and it will become easier to take bikes on trains, he said.