This paper presents several aspects of Rail 21, the plan for the future of Netherlands Railways (NS). Plan 21 aims to double NS's transport capacity by 2010, and increase the quality of its system and services. There will be shorter travelling times, better information and ticketing services, more seats, and more comfortable trains. The current two classes of train service (Intercity and local) will be replaced by three classes of train service: (1) Eurocity/Intercity (EC/IC), once per hour, with speeds of at least 160kph; (2) Inter-regional (IR) fast, twice per hour, with 140-160kph speeds; and (3) Regional/Suburban trains, with frequent short-distance services and 120-140kph speeds. The paper discusses the development of the improved information system, covering static and dynamic timetables, fares, facilities, and data about public transport companies. The effects of the new rail infrastructure are discussed for: (1) the Amstelveen line between Amsterdam and Amstelveen; and (2) the Flevo line between Amsterdam and Almere. The results of these case studies confirm that improvements to public transport will not be sufficient to change mode choice significantly; car restraint measures will also be required to ensure Rail 21's success.
Samenvatting