NEW concessions to operate 14 regional routes in the Netherlands were awarded to NS Reizigers on July 1, in line with legislation that came into effect on January 1 this year.
Most of the concessions are limited to two years or less, giving the transport ministry time to put its long-term strategy in place.
Responsibility for Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen, Nijmegen - Roermond and Maastricht - Kerkrade is being transferred to Gelderland and Limburg provinces in January 2007, and tenders for their operation are to be called shortly. Another seven routes will be put out to tender once terms have been agreed. The Hofplein and Zoetermeer lines will be taken over by RandstadRail in August 2006 (RG 4.05 p209).
The routes from Haarlem to Zandvoort, Alkmaar and Uitgeest, plus Zwolle - Almelo and the Houten Castellum shuttle, are expected to remain under NS control, either as long-term concessions or by reverting to the core network for which NS has exclusive rights until 2015.
