DUTCH tour operator Flywise has launched GoVolta, a new brand for daytime charter train services from Amsterdam to Paris, Berlin and Basel, which it intends to start operating on May 1 2024, followed by direct services to other destinations outside the Netherlands.
GoVolta has applied to the Dutch Consumers and Markets Authority (ACM) for permission to operate its initial services. ACM will determine the impact of the intermediate stops made within the Netherlands by the new services on the financial equilibrium of the Main Line Network (HLN) concession held by Netherlands Railways (NS).
Outside the Netherlands, the new international services will operated on an open-access basis.
Flywise has been operating overnight charter trains since 2021 under the Green City Trip brand, and says that the effort required to introduce and operate them has been considerable, while profitability has been difficult to achieve.
The tour operator is now focusing on offering day trains in as an attractive alternative to flying, both in terms of environmental impact and price.
The GoVolta trains will have both first and second class, a total capacity of 800 passengers and onboard catering provided by a restaurant car.
Fares and ticketing will follow the low-cost airline model, with all extras incurring an additional charge. Fares will start at €10, but with only a few seats available at this price. From Amsterdam, the estimated fare to Paris is €80 and €50 to Berlin.
For ticket sales, GoVolta will use the Green City Trip network, which works with tour operators, major retailers and supermarket chains in the Netherlands and Germany. This network will be extended and incorporated into the Benerail booking platform.
The indicative timetable for the daily Amsterdam - Paris service, with intermediate stops at Rotterdam Central, Lage Zwaluwem, Roosendaal, Antwerp Central and Brussels Midi, has the train departing from Amsterdam Central at 09.44 to arrive at Paris Nord at 17.21.
The journey time of 7h 37min compares with 3h 23min on the fastest Eurostar high-speed service. Northbound, the daily GoVolta train leaves Paris at 12.36 to arrive in Amsterdam at 20.15.
Govolta’s daily Berlin service will run to the Terminal 1-2 station at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), with intermediate stops at Deventer, Hengelo, Bad Bentheim, Osnabrück and Hannover. It departs from Amsterdam Central at 08.34, arriving in Berlin at 16.59 with a journey time of 7h 33min. Westbound, the service leaves Berlin at 12.56 to arrive in Amsterdam at 20.56.
The GoVolta service to Basel Bad station will operate three times a week in each direction, leaving Amsterdam on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with departures from Basel on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The train departs from Amsterdam at 07.32 to arrive in Basel at 17.52, with intermediate stops at Utrecht Central, Eindhoven Central, Venlo, Kaldenkirchen, Köln, Koblenzf, Mannheim, Karlsruhe, Ringsheim/Europapark and Freiburg im Breisgau. Services from Basel depart at 09.41 to arrive in Amsterdam at 21.13.
GoVolta also wants to introduce services to Munich and Copenhagen in 2025, aiming to eventually offer more than 20 routes across Europe. It is developing plans to invest in rolling stock and is aiming to cooperate with other operators, including NS in the Netherlands.
The main partner in the development of GoVolta is travel operator TuiUI, which is also aiming to grow its own rail operations. Where day trains are not able to serve the route well, such as between Amsterdam and Venice, overnight trains might be operated.
