The province and Qbuzz are expanding public transport from March 1. Travelers in Drechtsteden, Molenlanden and Gorinchem will get more rides and better connections.

The Province of South Holland is investing, among other things, in extended travel options in the evening and better connections between bus and train. This means: less waiting, more choice in departure times and smoother transfer times.

The main expansions at a glance:

  • R-net 489 and 491 Rotterdam – Drechtsteden
    These lines run extra trips at the edges of rush hour. Also in the early evening there is a connection every fifteen minutes between Rotterdam and the Drechtsteden.
  • Line 93 Dordrecht – Oud-Alblas – Nieuw-Lekkerland
    Line 93 will also run on Saturdays from now on. In Nieuw-Lekkerland the bus continues as line 489 towards Kinderdijk and Alblasserdam. In addition, line 93 connects in both directions to line 74 over the Lekdijk to Groot-Ammers and Gorinchem.
  • Line 74 Gorinchem – Gelkenes – Nieuw-Lekkerland
    During rush hour, line 74 now runs twice an hour instead of once an hour.
  • Line 387 Utrecht – Gorinchem-Dalem
    On weekdays, line 387 runs an hour longer in the evening to Gorinchem-East.
  • MerwedeLingelijn
    Since December 15, trains on the MerwedeLingelijn run more often. In the early evening and on Sundays there are now two trains per hour between Gorinchem and Geldermalsen.

Structural improvements

South Holland provincial official Jeroen van Dijken (traffic and transport) is pleased with the expansion of public transport in Drechtsteden, Molenlanden and Gorinchem. “This makes bus and train transport more attractive for our residents. That gives them more freedom of choice. This is extra important because there will be many road and bridge works in this area in the coming years.”

These expansions apply in principle for the entire transport period until the end of 2033. More expansions in this region are expected at the end of this year.

Strengthening regional public transport

The Province of South Holland finances these expansions from the so-called Bikkergelden. This is a fund from the national government to strengthen regional public transport. For the Drechtsteden, Molenlanden and Geldermalsen region alone, the province has an additional 2 million euros available per year. The province also invests extra in public transport in other regions. For example, in Hoeksche Waard/Goeree-Overflakkee there are more buses during off-peak hours and to small villages. The province has also used these funds for lines 20 and 22 of the Waterbus.

Attractive public transport

Even apart from the Bikkergelden, South Holland invests heavily in attractive and accessible public transport. The province ensures more buses on the road and better quality, for example by making the busiest connections faster and more comfortable. In addition, the bus transport of the Province of South Holland has on average the lowest kilometer rate in the Netherlands.

In the public transport vision of the Province of South Holland, which was adopted in January 2026, there are suggestions to further improve public transport. Based on the public transport vision, the province wants to further develop public transport, partly with the Bikkergelden.