The number of passengers travelling by train in the northern provinces of Friesland and Groningen has grown massively over the past two and a half years, ANP news agency reports.

Dutch Railways (NS) saw growth of 12% in the period and the British franchise holder Arriva registered an increase of 20%.
Trains in the region are so crowded that passengers are sometimes left behind on the platform. ‘We never expected this,’ an Arriva spokeswoman told ANP.
Ten years ago NS was considering closing down some routes in the north because they were unprofitable but now it is discussing expanding tracks.