Arriva is pressing ahead with plans to expand international rail services, unveiling proposals for new direct routes between the Netherlands, Belgium and Paris that could launch from February 2028.
The operator has formally notified the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of its intention to operate two additional international services linking The Hague and Amersfoort with the French capital. The filing is a required step before launching new open-access passenger rail services in the Netherlands.
If approved, the new routes would complement Arriva’s previously announced Groningen–Paris service, creating three direct rail links between the Netherlands and Paris.
The proposed The Hague–Paris service would operate three daily round trips. In the Netherlands, trains would call at Rotterdam and Roosendaal before crossing into Belgium. Stops would then include Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South (Midi/Zuid) and Mons, before continuing to Paris.
A second route from Amersfoort would run twice daily via Utrecht, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Breda. After entering Belgium, it would follow the same international corridor through Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons before reaching Paris.
The services are planned to begin in February 2028, or as soon as operational approvals, train paths and infrastructure access are secured.
The expansion is part of Arriva’s wider strategy to challenge incumbent international rail operators by offering more direct cross-border services. The company is positioning itself as an alternative to existing high-speed operators on one of Europe’s busiest international rail corridors.
Arriva had previously announced plans for a Groningen–Paris route, also serving Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons. That service was originally expected to launch in June 2026, but the company later confirmed the timetable had slipped because of operational and regulatory requirements. It now expects the route to start no earlier than 2027, although it remains firmly in its long-term network plans.
Together, the three routes would significantly expand direct rail connections between the Netherlands and France, while also giving travelers in Belgium additional options for journeys to and from Paris. The inclusion of Brussels Airport could also make the services attractive for air-to-rail connections.
Arriva is the largest competitor to Dutch state-owned rail operator NS in the regional rail market and has steadily expanded its international ambitions. The company already operates the Three Countries Train, linking Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, providing cross-border passenger services between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
