NS to raise train fares by an average of almost 5 per cent
The increase will take effect next year and comes on top of previous rises.
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NS will raise train ticket prices by an average of 4.7 per cent next year. This will make travelling by train more expensive for consumers once again, while the rail operator says it needs to account for costs and previously deferred increases.
NS has announced that train fares will rise by an average of 4.7 per cent in 2027. This is an average; the precise impact on each type of ticket, route and season ticket is not yet fully known.
The increase follows several years in which the price of rail travel has already been adjusted. NS previously referred to inflation, higher costs and a deferred fare increase. The terms and conditions for NS Flex also allow for additional increases. It is unclear whether that scope applies to every year in the 2027–2029 period.
For passengers, the measure means that single tickets and season tickets may become more expensive. Those travelling with a discount may see a different percentage increase from someone buying a full-fare ticket. NS also uses promotional fares and advance-purchase discounts to make travelling outside the busiest periods more attractive.
The price development may also affect employers and educational institutions that reimburse train travel. Their costs may rise, depending on the fares they pay, their reimbursement arrangements and the number of journeys.
The fare increase is not a decision on the timetable itself. NS has also announced improvements for 2027, including in the northern and eastern Netherlands. Whether those expansions justify the higher price for passengers is a political and societal judgement.
The increase comes at a time when train passengers are already facing limited affordability in public transport. Through the concession and regulations, the government partly determines the scope NS has to adjust fares. The Lower House (Tweede Kamer) can discuss the consequences for accessibility and mobility.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- NS will raise fares by an average of 4.7 per cent in 2027.
- The precise impact varies by product and route.
- For previous increases, NS has referred to costs, inflation and deferred fare adjustments.
Left
Arguments Public transport is a public service. Higher fares may hit people on low incomes, students and passengers without a car particularly hard; the government should therefore contribute more and put affordability first.
Values Equal access, affordability and less dependence on the car.
Consequences Without compensation, the price increase could lead to fewer train journeys and greater differences between people who can and cannot switch to the car.
Centre
Arguments NS must remain financially healthy to maintain the timetable and reliability, but fare increases must be transparent and accompanied by oversight of quality.
Values Continuity, predictability and a balance between public interests and operating costs.
Consequences A moderate increase can support investment, as long as passengers clearly know what they are paying for.
Right
Arguments The train should be paid for as far as possible by its users. Structural subsidies shift the bill to taxpayers who may not use trains.
Values Personal responsibility, cost recovery and limiting government spending.
Consequences Higher fares may encourage efficiency, but they may also reduce access to work and education outside the major cities.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The fare increase and the context of previous increases can be traced to NS sources. Details by ticket type have not yet been fully published and have therefore not been presented as established facts.
Editor's note
The average increase of 4.7 per cent is reported in several simultaneous news reports. At the time the sources were consulted, NS had not yet published a complete product table covering all fares.More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „trein prijzen”
- NOS — „trein prijzen”
- Het Parool — „trein prijzen”