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This cooperative venture is an important first step in KLM’s implementation of the Dutch government’s Action Plan for Rail and Air Services (Actieagenda Trein en Luchtvaart). This action plan was jointly released at the end of 2020 by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in consultation with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, ProRail, KLM and NS Dutch Railways. The plan stipulates actions and measures ensuring that international rail travel becomes a logical alternative supplementing airline services on routes shorter than 700 kilometres. For some time now, KLM has offered transfer passengers the option of boarding a Thalys high-speed train instead of a flight on the Brussels-Schiphol leg of their journey (or vice versa). Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 20 to 25% of these passengers (some 36,000 customers) chose this option. This trial is aimed at improving the customer experience.
Moreover, KLM is working with NS Dutch Railways and other European railway companies to explore the options of additional high-speed, comfortable rail services for transfer passengers to other destinations.
This trial is set to continue until 29 October 2022, after which an in-depth evaluation will take place, with the partners assessing options for further developing the air-rail product.
Rail schedule
The following rail services will feature the new KLM air-rail product:
– BRU-AMS: TH9357, daily except Saturdays, TH9351 on Saturdays
Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sun – departs: 16:52, arrives: 18:25; Sat – departs: 15:52, arrives: 17:25.
– AMS-BRU: TH9376 daily except Saturdays, TH9382 on Saturdays
Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sun – departs: 17:34, arrives 19:08; Sat. – departs 18:34, arrives 20:08
These are all local times (CET).
A full article on this in the next issue of MICE Benelux
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