NS, the main Dutch passenger railway company, reports an increase in both turnover and profit during the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.

The increase is the result of more passengers, larger turnover from shops at railway stations and more efficient operational management.

Operational results went from 141 million to 144 million euros. Profits were up to 108 million euros, compared to 99 million in the same period last year, a nine-percent increase. The number of passengers grew by four percent.

Public transport chip card
NS says the increase in passengers translates to about 50,000 extra passengers a day. The company has no explanation for the increase. NS also reports an increase in the number of passengers using the new public transport chip card, which the company has been actively promoting.

Fyra
The number of passengers travelling on the Fyra highspeed rail link connecting Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam has grown to more than a million compared to 250,000 in the first six months of last year. Ticket sales for the Thalys highspeed train link between Amsterdam and Paris showed a ten percent increase.

Customer satisfaction figures were also up, after reaching an absolute low last winter due to an unusually large number of disruptions as the result of heavy snowfall.

(gsh/tf/imm)

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