NETHERLANDS Railways (NS) has never strayed far from controversy in recent years. In January 2013 Fyra high-speed services on HSL South collapsed following the withdrawal of the AnsaldoBreda V250 trains procured specifically for the route. NS, in its High Speed Alliance (HSA) joint venture with KLM, had submitted an unrealistic bid to keep competitors off the route, and amid the disruption caused by the sudden loss of its train fleet, HSA was soon in deep financial trouble. The result was a government bailout and e1bn in unfulfilled obligations from the high-speed concession.