ARRIVA Netherlands has postponed plans to launch open-access passenger services between Zwolle and Groningen because it remains unclear whether the national Student Public Transport Card would be valid for travel on these trains.
The card is provided by the government under contracts with public transport operators, but it is unclear whether it is valid on open-access services. Arriva is seeking clarification on whether private operators would be compensated for passengers using the card. With students forming a significant share of the potential market for the new service, Arriva says revenue would be severely impacted if the cards were not accepted.
“Without clarity on this matter, it is impossible for us to create a future-proof offering,” Arriva says.
Arriva was granted paths for the services in 2025, following approval by the regulator ACM after an economic equilibrium assessment. Of the 26 train pairs requested, infrastructure manager ProRail allocated capacity for 24. Arriva initially aimed to start operations at the timetable change last December, but the period remaining between approval and the timetable change proved too short.
“One of the principles of our open-access trains has always been that passengers can travel on these trains without any obstacles,” Arriva says. “Therefore, we have always assumed the validity of standard tickets, such as the OV chip card (Dutch national smart card system) and OVpay (the successor to the OV chip card). We have consistently communicated this to the relevant ministries, among others.”
Arriva has also applied to operate open-access services between Zwolle and Leeuwarden, but permission has not yet been granted by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The case is now before the Netherlands’ highest administrative court for economic matters, which has ordered the minister to resume negotiations with Arriva.
Both routes fall under the national mainline network concession held by Netherlands Railways (NS) until 2032. The European Commission has challenged the direct award of this concession at the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU).
Domestic public transport in the Netherlands is generally operated under concessions, with limited exceptions such as certain Arriva night services on NS mainline routes.
