Travelers refuse IC Direct surcharge as delays persist
A growing number of passengers traveling on the IC Direct route between Schiphol and Rotterdam are refusing to pay the mandatory surcharge, citing frequent delays and train cancellations, AD reports. Conductors and union representatives confirm the trend, expressing sympathy for the passengers' frustrations.
The surcharge, which has been in place since December 2013, ranges from 2.90 euros during peak hours to 1.74 euros off-peak. It applies to the high-speed line that promises a quicker journey between Rotterdam and Schiphol. While the regular train via The Hague and Leiden takes about 50 minutes to reach Schiphol, the IC Direct is supposed to complete the trip in just 20 minutes. However, due to persistent speed restrictions and infrastructure issues, the journey now takes around 30 minutes.
Since late 2022, speed limits on the high-speed line have been enforced due to design flaws in the viaducts near Rijpwetering. Initially limited to 80 kilometers per hour, speeds were later increased to 120 and then 160 kilometers per hour, but the adjustments still fall short of the line’s original promises.
In addition to speed restrictions, the IC Direct has been plagued by service disruptions for years. In 2023, less than 60 percent of IC Direct trains from Rotterdam arrived on time, according to official data.
The recurring delays and cancellations have led to passenger dissatisfaction and increasing resistance to paying the surcharge. Many passengers now refuse to pay it outright, while others claim ignorance of the requirement.
“It’s true that many travelers are not paying the surcharge,” said conductors surveyed by FNV Spoor, the railway workers' union. Union representative Henri Janssen noted that about 5–7 percent of passengers avoid the fee. “Some genuinely don’t know about it, but others refuse on principle because of the poor service,” he added.
Conductors often show understanding and are reluctant to issue fines for unpaid surcharges, reserving penalties for passengers traveling without a valid ticket altogether.
Travelers' advocacy group Rover has called for the surcharge to be suspended until service reliability improves. “It’s indefensible,” said Rover director Freek Bos. “Delays and cancellations are the norm, and the IC Direct has essentially become a slow train for much of its route.”
NS, the national railway company, acknowledges that payment compliance on the IC Direct route is lower than on other lines but has refused to disclose specific figures. Spokesperson Anita Middelkoop defended the surcharge, stating that “even with the current speed restrictions, travel times remain shorter than on regular routes.”
The company has also expressed concern about overcrowding if the surcharge is removed. “The fee helps spread travelers across different routes,” said NS commercial director Ivo Steffens. NS also uses the surcharge to recover costs associated with operating on the high-speed line, which it rents from ProRail.
The elimination of the surcharge could cost NS between 27 million euros and 32 million euros through the end of 2025, according to a letter from State Secretary Chris Jansen to Tweede Kamer in August.
Despite the backlash, NS is expanding its surcharge system. The IC Direct route has been extended to include destinations like Lelystad, Amersfoort, and, in the coming years, cities such as Groningen, Enschede, and Leeuwarden. Additional surcharge kiosks are being installed at these stations, a move criticized by Rover. “Instead of accommodating travelers, NS is introducing a maze of kiosks,” said Bos.
Union representative Janssen pointed out that NS is not solely to blame for the IC Direct’s issues. “The delays are largely due to the poor state of infrastructure,” he said. “As long as ProRail and the Ministry of Infrastructure continue charging NS extra for access to the high-speed line, it’s unrealistic to expect them to scrap the surcharge for passengers.”
