Longer intercity direct trains on Dutch high speed line from January

NS will be running longer trains on the high-speed line from January, in an effort to cope with increased passengers. The Intercity Direct trains on this line will be expanded from six to seven carriages, a spokesperson for NS confirmed to NU.nl.

The number of passengers on the high-speed line between Amsterdam and Rotterdam increased by 25 percent over the past year, instead of the expected 10 percent.

The longer Intercity Direct trains come on top of the extension of the IC Brussels - which is currently in progress - and the planned expansion of the number of trains running on the line per hour. That will happen in December. All these measures combined will increase capacity by about 35 percent, according to NS. Despite these measures, trains will still be busy during rush hour, but this will stop the "biggest rush hour problems".

Early in April NS introduced a temporary discount for travelers who use the Intercity Direct trains outside the peak hours. According to NS, the discount made the trains less crowded, but offers "insufficient solace".