A Growing Network Takes Shape
Arriva has filed an updated proposal with the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets outlining plans to operate two new international rail services from February 2028, subject to regulatory approval and operational readiness. The routes would link Amersfoort and The Hague with Paris, both passing through several Belgian cities including Brussels and Antwerp.
The announcement extends the Dutch operator's ambitions beyond its previously announced Groningen to Paris service, which was initially slated for 2026 but has been pushed back to at least 2027. Together, the three routes would form a broader international network serving multiple Dutch cities while offering travelers more options for cross-border journeys.
Two Routes, Two Different Markets
The first proposed service would run twice daily between Amersfoort and Paris, calling at Utrecht, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Breda before crossing into Belgium. From there, trains would stop at Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South, and Mons en route to the French capital.
The second route would operate three times daily between The Hague and Paris, stopping at Rotterdam and Roosendaal before following the same Belgian corridor. For The Hague, a city hosting numerous international organizations and diplomatic institutions, the service would mark its first direct rail connection to Paris.
The routes also create new travel possibilities for Belgian passengers, who would gain direct access to Utrecht and The Hague without requiring connections in Amsterdam or Rotterdam. Brussels Airport, already served by multiple high-speed rail operators, would see its position as a regional rail hub further reinforced.
Capacity Exists, but Hurdles Remain
Arriva says the expansion would make use of existing spare capacity on rail infrastructure across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Yet the company acknowledges that launching international services involves a complex approval process requiring timetable coordination, infrastructure allocation, and regulatory sign-offs in all three countries.
The timeline reflects these challenges. The Groningen service, first announced in 2023 with a June 2026 target, has already been delayed by at least a year. The new Utrecht and The Hague routes are being pitched for February 2028 or later, with the caveat that operational and regulatory conditions must align.
Arriva is already the largest competitor to Dutch national operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen and operates the Three Country Train linking Liège, Maastricht, and Aachen. The company argues that increased competition on international routes can drive down fares and improve service quality, pointing to liberalized rail markets in Spain, Italy, and France as evidence.
The Broader Shift
The plans arrive as demand for international rail travel continues to climb, driven in part by passengers seeking alternatives to short-haul flights. Rail's environmental advantage over aviation has become a more prominent factor in travel decisions, particularly on routes where journey times are competitive.
Arriva's strategy also reflects a wider trend of smaller operators entering markets traditionally dominated by national carriers and established high-speed alliances. Whether the new services materialize on schedule will depend on how quickly infrastructure managers and regulators across three countries can coordinate capacity and approvals.
If the routes do launch, travelers in the Netherlands and Belgium will have more direct options for reaching Paris, while The Hague will gain a long-distance rail link that aligns with its role as a center for international governance and law.
