Profile of NS
NS provides a broad range of services that go beyond trains. In all our activities, the primary focus is on our passengers. Our more than 22,000 employees in the Netherlands and abroad work hard on this focus every day. Together with our public transport partners, we continually work to improve our service and performance levels.
Our organisation
NS consists of several business units, including NS Operations (around 13,400 staff on average in 2023), Commerce & Development (around 700 staff) and NS Stations (around 3,600 staff, including retail), plus central departments such as HR, Finance and IT (around 2,500 staff). Abroad, NS operates in conjunction with Abellio Germany (around 1,700 staff).
NS Operations is responsible for rail transport on the Dutch main rail network, including the high-speed line (HSL). This is where the employees work who enable our trains to travel from A to B in the Netherlands and across the border. They include train drivers, guards, mechanics and service staff, as well as the staff who work behind the scenes to help implement our timetables and manage operations during unexpected events.
In the Commerce & Development unit, staff design new timetables, come up with train formulas, run the Customer Service department, maintain stakeholder relations, launch marketing campaigns, carry out strategic and innovative projects and make the company more sustainable. This unit is also responsible for ticket and season ticket sales and for NS International. In addition, Commerce & Development conducts satisfaction surveys among passengers and identifies areas for improvement.
NS Stations works in a high-quality network of 400 large and small stations and promotes area development initiatives around the stations. Together with ProRail, public authorities and carriers, NS Stations seeks to make passenger journeys and the time spent in and around stations as convenient and enjoyable as possible. In collaboration with local authorities, citizens and social entrepreneurs, we seek effective integration of our facilities in the station environment. All activities are designed to improve the passenger experience at the station and throughout the journey.
Abellio bids for and operates rail franchises exclusively in the regional rail transport market. At the end of 2023, Abellio Germany operated three franchises in eight regions. Abellio UK was transferred to local management via a management buyout at the end of February.
Organisation chart
Rail franchises in Europe
