Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) has unveiled ambitious proposals for its December 2027 timetable, signalling a major uplift in services across the north and east of the Netherlands. In its formal Request for Advice to regional authorities and passenger bodies represented in Locov, NS sets out plans to restore direct Intercity links between Groningen and Rotterdam and to reintroduce a direct Enschede–Amsterdam Centraal peak-hour train.
From 2027, Groningen will once again gain a direct service to Rotterdam via Zwolle, the Hanze line, Schiphol and the high-speed line, operated by the new ICNG trains capable of 200 km/h. Journey times could fall further once line speeds on the Hanze route are increased. In the east, weekend frequencies between Amersfoort and Deventer would rise to three Intercity trains per hour, strengthening links to Amsterdam for Deventer and Apeldoorn.
Elsewhere, NS proposes reinstating the ten-minute Sprinter between Utrecht Centraal and Houten Castellum during peak hours from Monday to Thursday, linked through to Leiden for improved connectivity. The ten-minute Intercity between Amsterdam and Eindhoven would also run on Fridays.
Additional peak Sprinters to Veenendaal Centrum, doubled Sunday frequencies between The Hague and Dordrecht, extra weekend Intercity stops at Voorhout and Hillegom, and more early morning and late evening weekend trains between Amsterdam and The Hague complete the package.
Following consultation and capacity checks by ProRail, the final timetable will be confirmed in the autumn.
Valašský expres Services Disrupted by Long-Term Line Closure
Engineering works in the eastern Czech Republic and north-west Slovakia will see major disruption to international rail services for much of 2026, as repairs and modernisation take place between Vsetín and Púchov.
Infrastructure manager Správa železnic has announced a long-term closure of the Vsetín – Horní Lideč section, lasting until the end of the current timetable on December 12. The works will significantly affect long-distance EC services branded as Valašský expres.
The affected route forms part of the Line 280 corridor Přerov – Hranice na Moravě – Horní Lideč – Púchov, linking the Czech Republic with Slovakia. During the closure, České dráhy will operate replacement bus services for all EC-category trains on the Ex2 Valašský expres line between Vsetín and Púchov, running to a special closure timetable.
Passengers should note that journey times will be extended. Replacement buses will depart Púchov approximately 20 minutes earlier than the usual EC departure times, and around 10 minutes earlier from Horní Lideč. In the opposite direction, buses will arrive later than the normal train schedule.
EC trains 220 to 223, which ordinarily run between Prague and Žilina, will not operate in the Púchov – Žilina section during the closure. Travellers will need to use alternative connecting services for this portion of the journey.
The Valašský expres service is shown in European Rail Timetable Table 1160a.
