The planned discounted summer train subscription is set to begin on June 21st, if parliament approves.
As you may have heard, the Dutch cabinet wants to offer the flex dal vrij NS subscription for just €49 a month this summer.
This plan has been in the works since April, and if parliament approves, it will help alleviate the economic pressure of the current energy crisis.
What’s the deal?
According to NOS, the “climate ticket” runs from June 21 to September 1, covering unlimited travel on any NS route outside rush hour and at weekends. At full price, that same subscription costs nearly €128 a month.
However, the so-called “climate ticket” is proposed to run from June 21 to September 1. That window of just over two months is shorter than the three originally floated.
Parliament still needs to sign off
The deal needs approval from both the Tweede Kamer and Eerste Kamer before it can go ahead. State Secretary Bertram (Infrastructure) has pressed both chambers for a swift decision, warning that any delay would make the June 21 start date impossible.
The government has capped spending at €118 million, meaning there’s a hard limit on how many subscriptions can be issued, reports NOS.
Here’s hoping they can get it through in time.
Would the train pass change how you travel this summer? Let us know in the comments.
can you not also mention that this is a massive devalution from what was previously proposed?
originally it was all public transport similar to germany. however, Dutch politicians are apparently even more beholden to the car lobbyists than the Germans, as they really have no interest in providing affordable public transport. they are basically just offering half price on a dal vrij, which is not much better than NS tends to offer on its own every few months.