Cheap summer train pass draws 175,000 in two weeks

Some 175,000 people have bought the Netherlands’ cheap summer train pass in the two weeks since it went on sale, rail operator NS has said.

Passengers have travelled more than 9 million kilometres on the pass so far, or a little over 50 kilometres each on average.

The €49-a-month pass, which launched on June 15, covers off-peak travel on all domestic train services, both NS and regional operators. It normally costs nearly €128 a month, with the government making up the difference.

Those who bought before July 1 can use it for two full months, while anyone buying during July gets a maximum of one. The discount runs until September 1.

The scheme is intended to encourage people to take the train instead of the car while fuel prices are high. Off-peak covers weekdays before 6.30am, between 9am and 4pm and after 6.30pm, and all day at weekends.