New train stations drawing more rail passengers

Relatively new stations seem to attract more rail passengers. Six stations that were opened in the past few years saw an increase in the number of passengers of more than 15 percent in the period 2013-2014. This is according to figures NS provided to the Treinreiziger.nl. Other transporters refused to provide figures as it may be competitively sensitive. The station to show the largest growth in passenger numbers was Groningen Europapark, with an increase of 27 percent. This increase comes at the expense of other stations in the city of Groningen, for example fewer NS travelers used Groningen's main station since NS started operating through Europapark in December 2012. Other relatively new stations to show a significant increase in the number of passengers are Halfweg-Zwanenburg with an increase of 20 percent, and Kampen Zuid, Amsterdam Science Park and Almere Poort, each with a 17 percent increase. In absolute numbers, Utrecht Centraal had the biggest increase with an increase of 6 thousand travelers a day, though percentage wise the increase was only 3 percent. In absolute numbers, the station that saw the largest decrease in passengers was Amsterdam Centraal, with 6,500 fewer NS travelers a day. Other stations in the capital saw an increase in travelers. Percentage wise, Hoek van Holland was the biggest loser with a decrease of 27 percent.