The rise in turnover is credited to NS subsidiary Abellio taking over the British ScotRail franchise in April 2015 and an improving economic situation in the Netherlands which saw more season tickets sold and passenger-km increase by 2.3%.
NS' Dutch passenger operations recorded turnover of €2.3bn but some performance indicators fell short of target. Although punctuality at 91% exceeded the threshold of 90%, passenger satisfaction was 72.2%, below the minimum required of 74% and worse than 2014's figure of 75.4%. NS Stations reported turnover of €600m with a €21m rise in retail revenues to €400m. Abellio's turnover was €2.1bn excluding joint-ventures, and it made a €49m contribution to the holding company's results.
The company says it will invest €3.5bn over the next five years, focused on engineering, information technology, new trains and stations. NS will invest €3.5 billion during the next five years.
However, despite rising turnover, NS described 2015 as "difficult." Irregularities were found in its tender proceedings for public transport in the Dutch province of Limburg, and a Parliamentary Inquiry into the troubled Fyra high-speed rail project was also highly critical of NS.
