Small stations top highest-rated NS stations ranking; Klimmen‑Ransdaal 1st for 5th year
Three small stations topped this year’s ranking of best-rated NS and ProRail train stations, an annual study conducted by Ipsos I&O. Klimmen-Ransdaal came in first place for the fifth year in a row with a score of 8.7. Mantgum took second place with 8.3, and Schin op Geul third with 8.2, NS reported on Tuesday.
The researchers surveyed 83,715 passengers on their experience at the 393 train stations in the Netherlands. In general, passengers rated the stations highly, with the overall score stable at 7.2. Despite the three small stations’ position at the top of the ranking, it’s actually the largest stations, with over 75,000 passengers per day, that tend to score better on average, NS said.
Rotterdam Central Station is the only one of the Central Stations that made it into the top 3 of its province, ranking second in Zuid-Holland with a score of 7.84. Rotterdam Central Station ranked 22nd overall. Utrecht CS came second of the central stations in 28th place with a score of 7.78, followed by Arnhem CS in 50th (7.60), Leiden in 74th (7.51), Den Haag CS in 87th (7.46), Eindhoven CS in 114th (7.38), Amersfoort CS in 152nd (7.26), and Amsterdam CS in 184th with 7.18.
The top scoring station per province was Haren (7.94) in the province of Groningen, Mantgum (8.26) in Friesland, Dalen (7.72) in Drenthe, Dalfsen (8.15) in Overijssel, Barneveld Zuid (8.12) in Gelderland, Dronten (6.92) in Flevoland, Driebergen-Zeist (7.91) in the province of Utrecht, Overveen (7.98) in Noord-Holland, Delft (7.96) in Zuid-Holland, Kapelle-Biezelinge (7.72) in Zeeland, Deurne (7.72) in Noord-Brabant, and Klimmen-Ransdaal (8.67) in Limburg.
This year, NS again noticed that passengers appreciate a pleasant waiting experience and respond positively to renovations and upgrades focused on that. For example, Den Helder Zuid station had a poor rating for years. But after last year’s complete renovations, addressing both the infrastructure and the aesthetics of the station, its score rose by 1.4 points, from 5.1 last year to 6.6 now.
The worst-rated stations in the ranking are Lage Zwaluwe in 393rd place with a score of 4.82, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel in 392nd with 5.2, and Enschede De Eschmarke in 391st with 5.27.
According to NS, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel has reached the end of its lifespan and will soon undergo renovations to make the station more accessible, safer, and more sustainable. The first phase is scheduled to start in 2027. “After that, this station will undoubtedly also receive a higher rating.”
In the coming period, ProRail and NS will take a “targeted approach” to improving stations, considering both necessary maintenance and exploring how to make passengers’ time at the stations as pleasant as possible. “For example, with varied shopping offerings and comfortable waiting areas,” NS said. “There will also be increased attention to improving social safety at stations. This includes significant attention to aspects such as lighting, shelters, landscaping, and sightlines in and around stations.”
