Description

The risk of problems in the delivery of the ERTMS software for the locomotives, overburdening of staff critical to the business and external factors meaning that the agreed product steps will not be delivered on time or not in line with the agreed quality level.

Explanation

After the problems with Fyra, NS agreed an alternative HSL service with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment. This stipulates when NS should introduce certain product steps (timetables) with alternative rolling stock. New combinations of rolling stock (locomotive plus carriages) need to be tested for the introduction before they can be given permission to operate. NS is dependent for this on suppliers and other transport sector partners. Furthermore, external conditions such as side-winds play an important role in operational performance. When new product steps are introduced with new rolling stock, there is normally a growth path for performance. At present, our performance has not reached the desired level.

Measures

The HSL Service Implementation programme team is preparing the implementation of the various product steps in collaboration with the operational business. Priority is given to ensuring that the existing organisation is put in the best possible position to manage the new product and minimise or avoid any decline in performance when the new product is introduced. The rolling stock part of the programme should ensure that the trains are available on time so that the agreed transport service is indeed achieved. The rolling stock needs to be technically appropriate, to be given permission to operate and to be reliable. NS has set up a programme to improve the performance of the Intercity direct (Amsterdam-Breda). This has already led to improvements in operational performance, but the percentage of cancelled trains is still higher than agreed.
The IC Brussels train journey may be about half an hour shorter as of December 2017. The faster Benelux train is NS’s answer to the recommendations made in the parliamentary inquiry into Fyra. It advocated more fast, cheap train services to Brussels.

Risk control trend

NS has implemented various measures as a result of which control over performance has improved. Even so, the performance is still not up at the required level. NS is also critically dependent on suppliers and partners. The introduction of new product steps is also associated with a high risk. The overall level of control is the same.

Residual risk

High. The current risk profile does not yet match the desired risk profile.