Unprofitable Lines

In the history of the Dutch Railway several lines were sold or disbanded. Most of the time the decision was justifiable, but in a few cases NS made a mistake. In the future the exploitation of unprofitable lines will stop, for example the line between Rotterdam and Hoek van Holland. Will be replaced by a metro line. One of the mistakes was the selling of the MerwedeLingeline between Dordrecht and Elst to Arriva.

MerwedeLingeline

Logo MerwedeLingelijn

This line between Dordrecht and Geldermalsen was sold in 2009. NS runs twice a hour a train between Dordrecht and Geldermalsen. The passenger rates were too low for NS to continue this line further. But since Arriva has taken over the line, it is profitable again.  Arriva runs with their ‘spurt’ trains four times a hour in both directions. Arriva also built new railway stations, like Blauwe Zoom and Baanhoek. Station Dordrecht Stadspolders is extended with a second platform. Nowadays this line transports more than 7 thousand passengers a day.

Veolia train (Limburg) with marketing...

Other lines

In the province of Groningen and Limburg, NS sold several lines to Connexion, Veolia, Arriva and Synthus. These operators run the bus connections and have extended their services with these railway lines, like the line between Heerlen and Maastricht and between Leeuwarden and Harlingen.

Lines to be sold in the future

The line between Rotterdam Central and Hoek van Holland where the new Sprinter runs, will be sold to RET Rotterdam. This line will be replaced by a metro line and will extend the metro network of Rotterdam.