Ticket price increase for rush hour travel   

By The Holland Times Tuesday 06 April 2010, 10:04

The Dutch Railway is considering boosting the price of rush hour travel, announced an NS spokesperson over the weekend. The hope is that higher prices will result in less condensed travel at these times.

The idea of a rush hour charge comes as part of a series of suggestions from official working groups set to manage budget cuts that the government can implement. The group has also recommended a 10 percent increase for all railway tickets.

The NS will consider the group's proposals, saying there have been positive experiences with price incentives for travelers in the past. The so-called 'salt card,' introduced shortly after the problematic winter weather, was a great success says NS. The ticket made it cheaper for passengers to travel outside of peak hours.

According to the company's spokesperson, rush hour trains are operating at full capacity. "During rush hour, trains are overcrowded even while the weather outside is very calm."

NS itself cannot afford to operate more trains at these busy moments, added the spokesperson. "We are an independent company and we must stop ourselves."

An increase in ticket prices should result in less travel for those who do not need to commute during rush hour. "The plan is not yet a done deal," said the spokeswoman. "It is up to politicians to make choices."