National infrastructure manager of The Netherlands

 PRICB - ProRail B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2016):

ProRail operates and maintains the Dutch rail infrastructure. The company originates from Railinfrabeheer (track maintenance), Railned (capacity management) and Railverkeersleiding (traffic control) that were combined into ProRail in 2005. ProRail owns 4 road/rail vehicles (Unimog from Zagro) for hauling defective passenger trains. Track management is delegated to other companies.

Website: https://www.prorail.nl/

Railway Operators in The Netherlands
Veolia Cargo Nederland, rail4chem Benelux and ITL Benelux were taken over by SNCF Fret Benelux and now operate as Captrain Netherlands.

 NS - Nederlandse Spoorwegen

Network length, gauge and electrification (2016):

NS Reizigers operates passenger trains (both InterCity and local) over the core railway network in The Netherlands. Regional networks have been tendered, and some private operators have taken over parts of the network. Since 2007 (high-speed) international trains were operated by NS Hispeed, at the end of 2013 NS Hispeed was integrated with NS Reizigers again. International trains are now simply branded NS International. Using the brand name Abellio, NS operates passenger trains and busses mainly in the UK and in Germany.

In December 2017 operation of Zwolle-Almelo-Enschede and Zwolle-Kampen was taken over by Keolis. These lines were electrified in 2017 and NS withdrew its last diesel trainsets by the end of 2017.

Former semi-independent train maintenance company Nedtrain is now part of NS again, as NS Onderhoud en Service (O&S).

In 2023 1.085 million passengers a day travelled with NS, producing 15.5 billion passenger-km. This is still some 10% below 2019 pre-covid levels.

Website: http://www.ns.nl/

Stock Tables:
 ALTR - Alstom Traction BV (former Shunter Tractie B.V.)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2023):

In 2021 Alstom bought rolling stock maintenance company Shunter.
Alstom does not operate its own trains, but has a major repair shop in Rotterdam for locomotives. They also have a fleet of diesel locomotives and shunters that can be hired, by main line operators and by industrial users.

Website: https://www.alstom.com/

Stock Tables:
 AN - Arriva Nederland

Network length, gauge and electrification (2020):

In 1999 and 2000 private railway Noordned took over the operation of local trains on the lines radiating from from Leeuwarden and Groningen (Leeuwarden-Harlingen, Leeuwarden-Stavoren, Leeuwarden-Groningen, Groningen-Roodeschool, Groningen-Delfzijl and Groningen-Nieuweschans). Noordned was later acquired by Arriva, and since December 2005 the service is operated as Arriva Nederland. New stock has been ordered for the lines, including the line from Nieuweschans to Leer in Germany. In 2017 Arriva won the tender again and will now operate these lines until December 2035. 18 new hybrid (bio-diesel/battery) FLIRT3 trainsets from Stadler have been ordered, the existing trainsets will be rebuilt to hybrid drive.
In December 2020 the new concession started with an extra express train Leeuwarden-Groningen (now twice per hour) and extra rush hour trains on Leeuwarden-Sneek and Groningen-Winschoten. The express trains Groningen-Winschoten will be extended to Leer once the new bridge over the Ems in Germany has been built.

In 2006 Arriva also won the tender to operate the Merwede-Lingelijn Dordrecht-Gorinchem-Geldermalsen from December 2006. In the beginning hired trainsets from NSR were used, later electric trainsets were ordered from Stadler. This service was lost to Qbuzz who took over in December 2018.

In December 2012 Arriva has taken over operations from Syntus/NS on Zutphen-Winterswijk, Zutphen-Apeldoorn, Arnhem-Winterswijk, Arnhem-Tiel, and from NS on Zwolle-Emmen. In late 2013 Almelo-Mariënberg (now operated by Syntus on behalf of Connexxion) followed. In 2016 this service was extended from Mariënberg to Hardenberg. This concession will run until December 2025.

From December 2016 until 2031 Arriva operates all regional public transport in the Limburg province. This includes all lines until then operated by Veolia, plus Roermond-Maastricht and Sittard-Heerlen Sprinter services formerly operated by NS. The cross-border section Landgraaf-Herzogenrath(D) is currently being electrified (2018) and also Nijmegen-Roermond will be electrified (2023).

Since December 2017 Zwolle-Emmen and Almelo-Hardenberg (Vechtdal concession) is operated under the "Blauwnet" brand of Overijssel province. In December 2023 Arriva has taken over operation of Zutphen-Hengelo-Oldenzaal (ZHO) - also Blauwnet - from Keolis for 4 years (opt. +1 year).

In October 2023 Arriva was sold by DB to USA investment company I Squared.

Website: http://www.arriva.nl/

Stock Tables:
 CTD - Captrain Netherlands B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2015):

Captrain Netherlands is now part of Captrain Deutschland. Captrain is the brand name used for operations of the French national railways SNCF outside France. In The Netherlands they operate open-access freight trains, mainly to Belgium and France but also to Germany.

Website: http://www.captrain.nl/

Stock Tables:
 CXXN - Connexxion

Network length, gauge and electrification (2006):

For many years Connexxion ran passenger trains on Almelo-Mariënberg, but these were actually operated by Syntus until taken over by Arriva in December 2013. In December 2006 Connexxion took over the passenger trains on Amersfoort-Ede=Wageningen from NSR. New trainsets have entered service. Under brand name Breng the company operates half the passenger trains on Arnhem-Doetinchem (the other half and all weekend service is operated by Arriva).

Since December 2023 Amersfoort-Ede=Wageningen is operated by Keolis using its RRReis brand. All electric trainsets have transferred to Keolis.

Website: http://www.connexxion.nl/

Stock Tables:
 DBC (RN) - DB Cargo Nederland N.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2003):

After the split-up of the "old" NS, freight was handled by NS Cargo. NS Cargo merged into Railion, and became Railion Benelux. In September 2003 this name was changed again into Railion Nederland (RN). In February 2009 the "final" name became DB Schenker Rail Nederland N.V. In 2016 this was replaced by DB Cargo.

In 2007 Railion Nederland transported 31.9 million tonnes of freight, 0.8 million tonnes more than in 2006 (+2.5%). In tonne-km the amount of freight was 4.68 billion.

Website: https://nl.dbcargo.com/

Stock Tables:
 HSLN - HSL Netherlands B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2020):

HSLN is the Dutch operating arm of HSL Logistik from Germany. The company operates international trains, mainly to the port of Rotterdam. It mainly uses leased electric locomotives from its German parent.

Website: https://hsl-netherlands.eu/

Stock Tables:
 KEO - Keolis Nederland B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

Since December 2017 all former operations of Syntus in The Netherlands operate under the name of its owner, Keolis.

From May 1999 Syntus, a cooperation of NS and bus operator Oostnet, took over the service on the NS lines Zutphen-Winterswijk and Winterswijk-Doetinchem. At first second-hand rolling stock was used, but in total 19 new light-rail DMUs (LINT) entered service from May 2001 on. They also took over the stock of Oostnet (now retired), and operate trains on Almelo-Mariënberg too. On 1 April 2005 they started operation of Arnhem-Tiel, taken over from NSR. In 2012 all shares of Syntus were transferred to Keolis (France).

In December 2012 most of the train operation of Syntus was taken over by Arriva, that won the tender in December 2009, except for Zutphen-Hengelo-Oldenzaal. Since December 2017 Keolis operates the (now electrified) regional railways Zwolle-Kampen and Zwolle-Almelo-Hengelo-Enschede under brand name "Blauwnet" of Overijssel province.

In December 2023 operation of Zutphen-Hengelo-Oldenzaal has been taken over by Arriva. Since December 2023 Amersfoort-Ede=Wageningen is operated by Keolis using its RRReis brand, taken over from Connexxion. All electric trainsets have transferred from Connexxion to Keolis.

Website: http://www.keolis.nl/

Stock Tables:
 KRE - KombiRail Europe B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2015):

KombiRail is a small open-access freight operator with a focus on operating trains with containers and trailers between the port of Rotterdam and the Ruhr area in Germany.

Website: http://www.kombirail.eu/

Stock Tables:
 LNS - Lineas Nederland B.V. (former Independent Rail Partner)

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

Since June 2023 the Dutch activities of Lineas (Belgium) are operated by Lineas Nederland, including former IRP that was taken over by Lineas.
Lineas Nederland operates (international) freight trains in The Netherlands and performs shunting duties mainly in the North Sea ports.

Website: https://lineas.net/

Stock Tables:
 LTE - Logistik und Transport Netherlands

Network length, gauge and electrification (2012):

LTE is a large open-access freight operator from Austria. In 2012 a subsidiary was set up in The Netherlands, acquiring its own locomotives.

Website: https://www.lte-group.eu/

Stock Tables:
 QBZ - Qbuzz

Network length, gauge and electrification (2018):

Since December 2018 Qbuzz operates the Merwede-Lingelijn Dordrecht-Gorinchem-Geldermalsen train service as part of the Regio Drechtsteden-Molenlanden-Gorinchem public transport concession. This train service was previously operated by Arriva and the trainsets used are taken over by Qbuzz.

Website: https://www.qbuzz.nl/

Stock Tables:
 RFO - Rail Force One B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

In 2017 Raillogix, a rail freight logistics company, started its own freight operating company, Rail Force One. At first only one electric locomotive was leased, more followed.

Website: https://www.railforce.one/

Stock Tables:
 RRF - Rotterdam Rail Feeding

Network length, gauge and electrification (2004):

This company started its services in 2004. Its intentions are to provide shunting services at freight terminals when a rail operator does not have a shunting locomotive available. The first locomotive started shunting in Ede-Wageningen on behalf of Rail4Chem in December 2004.
In April 2008 RRF was bought by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. from the USA. This company operates many "shortlines" in the USA and provides shunting services in many ports all over the world.

Services in the port of Antwerp in Belgium, operated since April 2011, were withdrawn at the end of December 2018.

Website: https://www.railfeeding.com/

Stock Tables:
 RXP - Railexperts B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2017):

Railexperts mainly operates open-access passenger trains, like the Panorama Rail Restaurant and international holiday trains. In 2017 they bought their first own locomotive, second-hand electric locomotive 9901 from LOCON Benelux.

In May 2021 Railadventure (RADVE) from Germany acquired a majority stake in Railexperts. The first locomotive (9903, former NS 1611) has already been repainted in the Railadventure white and grey livery.

Website: http://railexperts.nl/

Stock Tables:
 TCS - Train Charter Services B.V.

Network length, gauge and electrification (2019):

In October 2019 Train Chater Events took over the operation of the Dinner Train from bankrupt Railpromo. The trains are operated by Train Charter Services using a license of Rail2U.
The company operates dinner trains from different stations during different periods of the year, and has also started operating freight trains.

Website: http://dinnertrain.eu/

Stock Tables:
Track maintenance companies

Network length, gauge and electrification (2003):

The following companies are responsible for track measuring and maintenance. Apart from the locomotives and shunters in the stock lists, the maintenance companies also have specialised stock like tampers.

Stock Tables:
Last update: 19-04-2024