Short answer: On 14 July 2026, Arriva formally notified the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of plans to launch two new international rail services linking The Hague and Amersfoort with Paris, on top of the previously announced Groningen–Paris route. The three combined services would deliver five daily round trips between the Netherlands and France, with a target launch in February 2028, pending regulatory approval.
For years the corridor between the Randstad and Paris has belonged almost exclusively to Eurostar and NS International, with Thalys-era fares to match. Arriva, the European passenger arm of Deutsche Bahn, is now moving to break that duopoly — and to do it without waiting for the high-speed ambitions promised by the European High-Speed Rail Action Plan.
What Arriva has just announced
The notification, sent to the ACM on 14 July 2026, sets out two new services running via Belgium:
- The Hague – Paris: 3 daily round trips, calling at Rotterdam, Roosendaal, Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons.
- Amersfoort – Paris: 2 daily round trips, calling at Utrecht, 's-Hertogenbosch and Breda.
Combined with the already announced Groningen – Paris route, the network would deliver 5 daily round trips between the Netherlands and France. Stops at Brussels Airport and Brussels-South turn each train into a multi-purpose corridor: stay on to Paris, or break the journey in the Belgian capital.
Routes, stops and timetable at a glance
The proposed Arriva services would knit the Netherlands together with Paris in ways current operators do not. Instead of funnelling everything through Amsterdam Centraal, Arriva picks up traffic from the southern Randstad (The Hague, Rotterdam), the heart of the country ('s-Hertogenbosch, Amersfoort) and the north (Groningen). For travellers who do not live next to a high-speed terminal, that geography is the entire appeal.
Why it matters for travellers
A second operator on the Paris–Netherlands corridor usually means three things for passengers: lower fares (a competitive bid is the surest discount driver), more departure times and better connections to secondary cities that the incumbent has no commercial interest in serving.
That is the same pattern that played out in Spain, where Ouigo and Iryo forced Renfe to lower AVE prices in the corridors they entered — and the same logic Eurostar is now bracing for as the Channel Tunnel opens up to additional operators (see our Eurostar Channel Tunnel competition analysis).
If you compare today, a one-way Amsterdam–Paris Eurostar typically sells from around €35–€80 in Standard and €110–€220 in Comfort, depending on how far ahead you book. Arriva has not yet published fares, but the group's Dutch regional services are usually priced for the everyday traveller, and competition is the only durable way to make the Paris–Netherlands route affordable. To weigh the new service against trains, buses, carpooling and flights in a single search, you can compare routes on Gopaxo.
How Arriva plans to enter the market
A few structural points make this notification more than a press release. Arriva already runs 2,200+ daily services across the Netherlands, including cross-border work into Germany and Belgium, so adding a third country is an extension, not a start-up. The company is expected to use multi-system trains (likely Alstom or Siemens, both of which build units certified for France, Belgium and the Netherlands), avoiding locomotive changes at the border. Filing with the ACM opens the public consultation period that any new open-access operator must clear before launch, and as a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn the group can lean on a parent's balance sheet — the same kind of firepower Trenitalia used to launch Iryo in Spain.
What could still derail the launch
Two questions will decide whether the trains actually run in February 2028:
- Capacity on the Belgian network. The corridor The Hague–Antwerp is already busy, and SNCB/NMBS and Infrabel will have to allocate paths. Slot negotiations in Belgium have derailed more than one open-access application in the last decade.
- Reactions from Eurostar and NS International. Incumbents can respond with their own price cuts, a new timetable, or even regulatory objections. The pattern in Spain shows that the consumer usually wins in the end, but the rollout can be delayed.
If both go smoothly, the Paris–Netherlands market in 2028 will look materially different from today's — closer to what travelling cheaper by train already describes as the European norm: a competitive, multi-operator network.
How to get ready for the Arriva launch
- Watch the ACM decision. The regulator is expected to publish its response by the end of 2026; a green light will trigger the detailed timetable and fare announcements.
- Stay flexible on departure city. If you live in the south of the Randstad, the The Hague origin is the most useful new option. In the east, look at Amersfoort or 's-Hertogenbosch.
- Compare the incumbent at the same time. Even with three new Arriva round trips a day, Eurostar will still be the densest, fastest service. The point of competition is that you no longer have to take the first option you see.
- Combine with the rest of the network. Brussels connections mean an Arriva ticket to Paris can be the first leg of a longer Brussels–Berlin night train trip, for example.
Quick recap
- Arriva notified the ACM on 14 July 2026 of two new services to Paris: The Hague – Paris (3 daily round trips) and Amersfoort – Paris (2 daily round trips).
- Combined with the already announced Groningen – Paris route, the network would deliver 5 daily round trips between the Netherlands and Paris.
- All services would run via Belgium, with stops at Brussels Airport and Brussels-South.
- The target launch is February 2028, pending ACM approval and capacity allocation by the Belgian network.
- Fares have not been published, but Arriva is positioning itself as a lower-cost, more flexible alternative to Eurostar and NS International.
Frequently asked questions
What did Arriva announce on 14 July 2026?
Arriva notified the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) of two new cross-border services to Paris: The Hague – Paris with 3 daily round trips and Amersfoort – Paris with 2 daily round trips. Combined with the previously announced Groningen – Paris route, the network would run 5 daily round trips between the Netherlands and France.
When would the Arriva Paris services start running?
The target launch is February 2028, subject to ACM approval, the outcome of public consultation, and capacity allocation by the Belgian rail network.
Which cities would the Arriva trains call at?
The Hague–Paris would call at Rotterdam, Roosendaal, Antwerp, Brussels Airport, Brussels-South and Mons. The Amersfoort–Paris service would call at Utrecht, 's-Hertogenbosch and Breda, then join the same onward path to Paris. Both services use Brussels Airport and Brussels-South as Belgian interchange points.
How much would a ticket cost?
Arriva has not yet published fares. Based on its regional pricing in the Netherlands, the service is expected to be positioned below current Eurostar and NS International fares, but final prices will only be known once the timetable is registered with the ACM.
How would Arriva compete with Eurostar?
By offering more Dutch origin cities (The Hague, Amersfoort, Groningen alongside Amsterdam), more departure times (5 daily round trips in total) and a lower fare positioning typical of open-access operators. Eurostar's response — and how the French regulator handles capacity at Paris-Nord — will determine the final balance.
Do I need to book through a specific channel?
No. Once the service is open, tickets would be sold on arriva.nl and via the usual European rail booking channels. In the meantime, you can compare every available train, bus, carpooling and flight option on Gopaxo to plan your trip.
Ready to cross the Randstad–Paris corridor? Compare the Dutch–French routes on Gopaxo and see how trains stack up against carpooling, flights and buses, or browse our FAQ for more practical tips.
