NS was fined 1.5 million euros because it failed to comply with the agreements that the carrier made with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW).
According to State Secretary Heijnen, the carrier wrongly scaled down the timetable, even though it had received the maximum compensation of 274 million euros from the cabinet.
“The amount was intended to compensate for the disappointing passenger numbers in the aftermath of the corona pandemic. The agreement we made with them was that the full timetable would be driven, but that did not happen.
There were still gaps in the timetable,” says a spokesperson for IenW. “That is why we have now imposed a maximum fine on the company. An amount that NS must invest in measures that benefit passengers.”
Less dropouts
NS says in response that it did indeed receive too much ‘availability compensation’ in 2022 because fewer trains were run than originally intended. “It was one tough and annoying year for the traveler and for us,” says Geert Koolen.
“We will choose an appealing and appropriate destination for the fine amount that the State Secretary makes available. We have now started a new timetable in December and the first results are positive and we see fewer cancellations, a greater chance of a seat for the passenger and less crowded trains.”
ProRail is also fined
Not only NS was reprimanded by Heijnen. ProRail is also fined. “In itself, the rail manager has performed well and has kept to the agreements that have been made with us, but the freight transporters are not completely satisfied. That is why we are imposing a fine of 100,000 euros on them,” said the IenW spokesman.