Dutch state-owned rail company NS is still posting a loss despite growing post-Covid passenger numbers, its half-year results have shown. The company’s operational losses fell from €225 million a year ago to €26 million in the first six months of this year. The company called the results “still not good enough for a financially healthy NS”, predicting that the years ahead will be “financially challenging”. CEO Wouter Wouter Koolmees said the changing travel habits of the Dutch were one reason...
And their roads? What about their roads? Do their highways pay for themselves? Why is it that public transit must always be budget neutral or make a profit, but it’s perfectly okay if, like in the US, the government pays $10 for every $1 a driver spends on driving?
Cars are heavily taxed in the Netherlands, afaik both when you buy them and then yearly.
I’d be very interested to see some numbers here. I share the sentiment of the OP: there’s often talk about public transport being unprofitable but I haven’t come across any conversation about how much it costs to maintain our road infrastructure and how much of it is covered by taxes.
Meanwhile, using a car to go between two cities in the Netherlands always works out cheaper than taking the train and the difference has gone up significantly in the last few years.
From my quick search, taxes come up to 4 billion.
Regular maintenance is 3 billion. Special projects for big repairs or new roads was 19 billion. But that also included some water infrastructure.
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Don’t really have the numbers, sorry, I just know that it’s a lot of money, especially if you have a nicer car.
In the context of infrastructure, I don’t think comparing direct costs/income makes sense to talk about. It’s existence brings insane economical benefit, doesn’t matter if it’s roads or public transport.
So my point is, it doesn’t make sense to try to hate on roads because of costs/income, same as it doesn’t make sense to do the same with public transport, both have their place in a much bigger system than themselves.
It’s no hate on roads, it’s hate on injustice expectations. Why should trains make profit and cars/roads are accepted as public subsidized method of transportation?
Plus it’s a misconception that roads bring us ‘insane economical benefit’. They cost us so so much (consider freedom, equality, environment, health and actual money) and the average citizen is certainly not the one to profit from this system.
It might not be in this case, but it usually is, which is why I’ve included it
Now there I wholeheartedly disagree. They absolutely do.
Freedom - I don’t understand why you’ve included this one. Roads allow you to travel in the free-est way that exists, not considering <20km ranges, where that’d be walking/biking. You’re just not dependent on a bus company deciding to cut a bus route, a train breaking down and blocking the rail, anything. It just doesn’t make sense.
Equality - Yeah maybe, you could say that about almost anything though, same goes with housing, clothing, food, luxuries. I know it’s worse in the US though, where it’s a disaster not to drive, but I’m speaking from the European PoV, where cars extend what you can do, and the lack of them doesn’t bar you from much.
Environment - Sure, though from what I’ve seen cars are not that bad, when you look at the whole picture. Can’t disagree though.
Health - I don’t really see a counterpoint, so agreed. Maybe ambulances?
Actual money - Worth it, very much worth it. I’m driving a car I bought for $1500 and put another $1000 in, and it’s improved my life significantly, even though public transit is good and readily available (I’ll take a 5m drive versus a 30m commute any day). My time is worth quite a lot to me.
The citizen might not profit directly, money-wise, but economically, it’s invaluable. It’s not easy to distribute goods around the country/the world, and it’d be impossible without the flexibility of roads.
Every three months for me. Around 100-150 eur.
That’s not what I’d call heavily taxed but it’s better than Germany where it’s around 50-350 annually.
How is it that every time I learn something about the Netherlands, it only ever sounds better?
Because you haven’t tried moving and living there.
It’s expensive, especially if you want to own a house, there’s just no space.