KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and high-speed rail operator Thalys have started a trial to transfer airline passengers by train between Amsterdam Schiphol and Brussels airports.
The new service has been introduced to allow KLM to drop one daily flight between Amsterdam and Brussels through buying seats on Thalys trains between the two airports.
The venture is KLM’s implementation of the Dutch government’s Action Plan for Rail and Air Services, which seeks to ensure that international rail travel becomes a “logical alternative” to flights on routes of less than 700 kilometres.
KLM has already been offering transfer passengers the option of boarding a Thalys train instead of a flight on the Brussels-Schiphol leg of their journey for several years. Around 20 to 25 per cent of passengers chose the rail option before the pandemic.
The airline said the new trial with Thalys was aimed at improving customer experience and could be expanded if successful.
KLM is also working with NS Dutch Railways and other European rail operators to explore further high-speed train transfers as an alternative to flights.
Boet Kreiken, KLM’s executive vice president, customer experience, said: “The new air-rail product is the first concrete result of the Action Plan for Rail and Air Services.
“We’re striving to ensure a seamless customer journey, with better connections between rail and air travel.”
This KLM-Thalys trial is set to continue until 29 October, which will be followed by an in-depth evaluation when options for further developing the air-rail product will be assessed.
The Thalys train service between Amsterdam and Brussels airports takes around 90 minutes compared with an average flight time of 45 minutes.