The Hague makes urgent appeal to keep ordinary trains to Belgium
The Hague city council has made an urgent appeal to parliament in an effort to ensure ordinary train services remain between the political capital and Brussels.
From December, direct train services between Antwerp, Brussels and The Hague will be stopped, when high-speed trains take over the route. But the high-speed service does not stop in The Hague.
This means people wanting to travel to Belgium must change to the more expensive service in Rotterdam.
Direct connection
‘It is an unbelievable and shocking fact that the political capital of the Netherlands, where dozens of international organisations, courts and corporate headquarters are based, will no longer have a direct international train connection,’ transport alderman Peter Smits said in his letter
It is a ‘serious blow’ to the region’s international accessibility, Smits said.
He wants parliament to ensure ordinary train services continue until high-speed services from The Hague are completed.
Parliament earlier agreed to suspend ordinary services if an alternative is available, but that will not be the case by December 9.
Train tickets to Belgium set to soar in price
Will this affect you? Have your say using the comment box below.
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.
We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.
Make a donation