Cost of train tickets to rise by up to 9 percent next year

The price of train tickets will rise by 6 to 9 percent next year, caretaker State Secretary for Public Transport, Thierry Aartsen, wrote in a letter to parliament. Previously, an increase of 12 percent was expected, but the NS has taken measures since that report to lower costs.

The transport company will, among other things, cut costs by reorganizing how train maintenance is carried out. Fewer train units will be kept immediately available as backup, and on busy days, fewer trains will be taken out of service for maintenance.

The NS acknowledged that passengers face a greater risk of crowded trains due to the smaller buffer. This is most likely to occur during rush hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the fall, and in the Randstad region.

In addition, the first-class compartment will also be replaced by a second-class compartment in some trains, and some discounts will be discontinued. For example, the NS recently announced that they will cancel day cards for younger people.

The price is rising so sharply because inflation had not been passed on earlier. Plans for a price increase of 12 percent were canceled last year after the Cabinet got involved. But earlier this year, then-State Secretary Chris Jansen (PVV) stated that there was no money available for the government to spend to prevent the price hike, as it did in 2023.

Aartsen is pleased with the result. "Together, we have looked carefully and critically at the possibilities to limit the price increase." NS says it did not want to pass the full backlog of inflation on to passengers. "Unfortunately, NS cannot prevent these measures from also impacting train passengers, such as the recent decision to stop selling the Youth Day Ticket."

The NS has stated that they are disappointed that the government did not help keep the price increase down by offering a financial contribution. "NS would also have liked to make these agreements before 2026." NS has to make many investments in trains and is still involved in a wage dispute with the unions, while the company has been running at a loss for years. "NS is saving 200 million euros per year on its own, partly by downsizing its headquarters and cutting costs on hiring, IT, and housing expenses."

The final ticket price will be determined this fall.