“Just like in Belgium : a separate weekend timetable for the Dutch Railways?” The timetable of the Dutch Railways is characterised by a basic pattern, without any major differences between weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Routes, frequencies and departure- and arrival times are identical. But the needs of our passengers are not. The number of passengers on Saturdays and Sundays is lower than on weekdays, but weekend trips are longer and have other origins and destinations. There is no great variation in the traffic flows such as a peak or off-peak period, except for the very limited demand on Sunday mornings, and there are no recognisable regional differences. This study marks the starting point for a completely new approach for weekend railway services. By making use of our knowledge of the specific needs and demands of passengers, separate, tailor-made timetables for these two days may result in a product that is better attuned to the demands of the passenger and more efficient in operation. (Author/publisher)
Abstract