A significant expansion is on the horizon for intercity train connections between the Netherlands and Brussels as a result of a collaborative agreement reached between the NS (Nederlandse

Spoorwegen) and the Belgian railway company NMBS. This partnership will bring forth a new train route by 2025.

The forthcoming service, set to commence operations, will streamline the journey by eliminating stops at Breda, Mechelen, and Zaventem Airport. This strategic alteration will result in a reduction of approximately 45 minutes in travel time, shortening the trip from Amsterdam to Brussels to a little over two hours.

Furthermore, the new service will initiate its operations from Amsterdam Zuid station, deviating from the conventional starting point of Amsterdam Centraal. Additionally, it will feature an innovative train model designed to attain speeds of up to 200 kph.

It's important to note that regular services, encompassing more cities along the route, will continue to operate unaffected. The Rotterdam-Breda-Brussels service will remain intact.

While precise costs and the detailed timetable remain to be determined, the impending service expansion will elevate the number of daily trains between the Netherlands and Brussels to 32.

Under the stipulations of the ongoing concession, the Brussels route represents the sole cross-border train service that NS will exclusively operate from 2025. In a parallel development, the caretaker cabinet has granted permission for competition to be introduced on other popular routes, such as Paris, London, and Berlin, as several rail companies have submitted license applications.

As previously reported, the cabinet has also endorsed an annual subsidy of €13 million for NS, a state-owned enterprise, to offset the decline in ridership stemming from the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moreover, governmental ministers have given their approval for the implementation of elevated ticket prices during peak hours. Despite facing criticism from MPs and rail user groups, it's suggested by insiders that this plan may encounter resistance during parliamentary voting and is unlikely to receive approval.

Caretaker Junior Minister Vivianne Heijnen aims to finalize the revised agreement with NS by the conclusion of this year. Photo by Hypergio, Wikimedia commons.