Dutch Deputy Transport Minister Tineke Huizinga has ordered an investigation into hidden price rises in public transport in connection with the new electronic travel pass. The so-called OV chip card appears to be making rail or bus rides more expensive than under the current paper ticket system, according to several studies.

As part of its economic stability programme the government opposes unwarranted price rises. An investigation by the biggest opposition party in parliament, the Socialist Party, shows that Amsterdam's metro, bus and tram prices have gone up by 5 percent, while buses in Arnhem have gone up 22 percent. The Netherlands' public transport rates are set by local authorities.

The new electronic ticket is based on a different charging system. Travellers pay for the actual number of kilometres travelled between check-in and check-out, rather than the current stepped system where they pay for every zone they cross.

The OV chip card is gradually being introduced nationwide. In Rotterdam it will be the only way to pay for public transport from 11 February. In other cities and towns paper ticketing will continue alongside the electronic pass for a while. In the long run, railway companies will also require the new card to be used, but many issues such as through-ticketing for trips involving more than one company still need to be resolved.

Critics, such as the public transport users group Rover, say that the new electronic travel pass is ill-suited to incidental users such as tourists. The group advocates the retention of paper tickets as an alternative, but the government ultimately wants to abolish the zone-based "strip card".

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide