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Travelling in comfort by public transport

The government wants public transport to be a viable alternative to driving. So public transport needs to be hassle-free. The government is encouraging public transport operators to make things as easy as possible for travellers. By providing up-to-date travel information, comfortable vehicles and a wide range of facilities at stations, for instance.

OV chipkaart

The OV chipkaart is a smart card used for public transport across the Netherlands. You can find more information about the OV chipkaart on ov-chipkaart.nl.

Up-to-date information for passengers

Information on the departure and arrival times of trains, buses, trams and metros must be correct and up-to-date. Information should be available before and during the journey, both when services are running as normal and when there are disruptions. This requirement is included in all concessions; these are the licences granted to transport operators by metropolitan regions, provinces and central government. They contain a whole range of specifications.

A comfortable journey

If they are going to be a viable alternative to driving, trains, buses, trams and metros must be comfortable. That’s why central government sets out requirements for the facilities available on board to passengers. There are also measures in place to prevent overcrowding.

Facilities at stations

There are nearly 400 train stations in the Netherlands. They are used by 1.2 million people every day. Central government leaves it to the Dutch Railways (NS) and rail infrastructure manager ProRail to take measures to make things as easy as possible for passengers. These include creating more parking spaces and bicycle storage for a fast onward connection, improving washroom facilities and offering a larger selection of shops and places to eat.

Accessible to everyone

Public transport should be accessible to everyone. This includes passengers with a mental or physical disability. Many trains, buses, trams, metros and stations have been adapted, but this alone is not enough. That’s why the government has introduced stricter rules to ensure accessibility for everyone.