NS, the Dutch national rail operator, plans to work with local and regional authorities to develop a rail pass for low-income individuals. The first pilot program will be conducted in collaboration with the municipality of Amersfoort, where eligible residents will be able to travel by train for free for six months.
The pilot program is called Vooruitpas Amersfoort and will begin on July 1, 2026. The pass will be valid until December 31, 2026, after which the trial will automatically end.
According to NS, the goal of the project is to analyze the needs and travel behavior of participants to determine whether a permanent pass for low-income individuals can subsequently be created in partnership with local, regional, or national authorities.
1,000 passes available
The Amersfoort municipality will contact families who meet the criteria for the Vooruitpas. A total of 1,000 passes will be available. If the number of interested parties exceeds this limit, the city will hold a lottery.
NS argues that access to transportation is essential for people’s participation in social and economic life. For people with low incomes, the cost of a train ride can become a barrier to accessing jobs, education, services, or social activities.
“Travel means freedom. If you have too little money to travel by train, you’re limited. You always have to weigh the options: do I go or not, and what do I have to give up to do so? For this reason, many municipalities and provinces want to offer cheaper public transportation. We at NS want the train to be available to everyone. That is why we now want to explore, together with these authorities, whether we can create a special pass for people with low incomes,” said Daan Schut, a member of the NS Board of Directors.
A potential model for other cities
The results of the test are expected early next year. NS says it will use the findings to propose similar solutions to other municipalities.
At the same time, the rail operator is discussing with the Dutch government and other transport providers ways in which public transport can become more affordable for certain groups of people.
The Amersfoort project also has a broader public policy component. NS links access to trains to social inclusion, as well as to the goal of encouraging the use of public transportation, including to reduce energy consumption across society.
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