Arriva expands night train service, challenging NS control over key routes

Arriva’s new night train between Zwolle and Schiphol made its first trip early Saturday morning, departing Zwolle at 1:21 a.m. and arriving at Schiphol at 2:41 a.m. The train then made the return journey, arriving back in Zwolle at 3:59 a.m.

The introduction of the service fulfills a longstanding request from Almere and Lelystad, where local officials believe the train will primarily benefit nightlife crowds and travelers heading to Schiphol. Since early 2023, Arriva has operated a Friday-to-Saturday night train from Groningen to Amsterdam and the airport. The new connection from Zwolle expands the service and now operates both Friday and Saturday nights.

Train enthusiasts were among the first to board the new service, celebrating the inaugural ride with a DJ playing music and refreshments being offered. One woman, who won a free ticket for the journey, praised the new service, saying, “I think it’s great. If people need to fly through Schiphol, they will be happy. Or if people are out in Amsterdam and want to get home.”

While night trains are not uncommon in the Netherlands, launching this particular service required overcoming regulatory challenges. The route runs on the country’s main rail network, or hoofdrailnet, which is generally reserved for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) passenger trains under government regulations.

Recent open-access rules allowed Arriva to operate on NS-controlled tracks, provided its trains do not interfere with NS schedules. Because NS does not operate night services along the Zwolle-Almere-Lelystad corridor, Arriva was granted permission. “We read in the newspaper that Almere wanted a night train and had asked NS about the costs,” an Arriva spokesperson said. “So we proposed an option based on the open-access regulations.”

NS does not oppose the train itself but objects to its funding structure. The cities of Almere and Lelystad have agreed to provide up to 100,000 euros in subsidies to Arriva to support the service. “We believe open-access services under European rules should not be subsidized,” an NS spokesperson stated, adding that NS would have preferred to run the service itself.

Arriva maintains that Almere has thoroughly examined the legal basis for the subsidy and insists it is permitted. NS has filed an objection, though no ruling has been made.

The subsidy amount is capped, meaning the more tickets Arriva sells, the less public funding the service receives. Ticket prices range from 5 to 15 euros, depending on travel distance, slightly cheaper than NS daytime fares.

Unlike NS trains, Arriva’s night service does not support the OV-chipkaart system for check-ins. Passengers must buy tickets in advance via a dedicated app or purchase them onboard for an additional 2.50 euros surcharge.

Transportation economist Bert van Wee views the new service as a positive development for travelers, saying, “Passengers gain more options when NS is not running.” However, he warned that increased market competition in the future could lead to complications. “If this experiment succeeds, Arriva will push the argument that they are more efficient than NS and that more market competition should be introduced.”

Despite this, Van Wee cautioned that further liberalization of the rail market might not benefit passengers. “If these types of initiatives lead to full market opening, it could actually be negative for passengers. More competition may require more transfers between different operators.” He also noted that integrating more private operators into the Netherlands’ already congested rail system could prove challenging.