Beyond the Schedule: Zeeland's Innovative Transport Solution Reshapes Travel

Zeeland's Public Transport is Undergoing a Significant Transformation with the Launch of Anadvanced Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) service. This initiative, a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water ZeelandProvince, Siemens Mobility, and its subsidiary Padam Mobility, aims to offer a flexible, efficient, and environmentally friendly way to getaround, designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of everyone in the region.

This article looks at the innovative DRT service's initial implementation, first user experiences, and ongoing expansion.

On the path to more accessible mobility

The DRT service beganits initial rollout in the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland in February 2025.Shortly after, it was introduced to a second area, the Noord-Beveland Islands, in June 2025. The service is now expanding across the remaining 11 Municipalities of Zeeland, with full deployment expected to be completed by 2026.

The innovative system is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a dynamic routing engine from Siemens subsidiary Hacon, which is seamlessly integrated into Padam Mobility's DRT app. The result is a dynamic system that allows for multimodal and intermodal trips, providing real-time updates through an intuitive, easy-to-use app. Users can choose from variousoperating models, including door-to-door and stop-to-stop options. A furtherservice configuration, door-to-stop, is also set to be introduced in the coming weeks, promising to make the service even more agile and efficient for users and personal service.

A key aspect of this new system is its expanded accessibility. Previously, on-demand publictransport in Zeeland was primarily limited to individuals with a WMO indication (Social Support Act) and students. Now, the DRT system is accessible toeveryone, intending to promote tourism and encourage residents to consider leaving their cars at home more often. Once fully deployed, the service is projected to operate with a fleet of around 300 vehicles, capable of processingup to 10,000 rides per day.

Positive User Experience

The initial months of operation have provided valuable insights into this new approach to public transport, indicating high user satisfaction. As of June 2025, the service boasts an impressive 4.9/5 overall user rating based on over 1,000 ratings in February, with only a handful of ratings falling below three stars. This strong feedback underscores the positive reception among users.

A core strength of the DRT system lies in its ability to simultaneously serve diverse user groups, ensuring equitable access for all. It intelligently distinguishes between passengers with a WMO indication (Social Support Act eligibility) and 'Regular'DRT users. This distinction allows the system to cater to specific needs for WMO passengers, such as acknowledging requirements for special equipment onboard, the need for an experienced person, or other specialized assistance. This tailored approach ensures that all individuals, regardless of theirspecific mobility requirements, can benefit from the service. For convenience, multiple payment methods are available, including IDEAL (a popular local payment provider), credit card, and onboard payment options. The service is already seeing around 8700+ casual and recurring regular passengers, consistently consistent adoption across various user segments.

Furthermore, a significant focus has been placed on environmentalresponsibility. The future fleet of approximately 300 vehicles will include electric vehicles, among othertypes, directly contributing to more environmentally friendly traffic within Zeeland.

Where to Go FromHere?

User feedback on the service and the app is continuouslycollected and used to improve the ongoing roll-out.

The service aims to offer everyone easy, seamless and flexible access to sustainable transport. With the further expansion of the DRT service until it is fully operational in 2026, Zeeland is actively on course to introduce a new standard for easy, fair and sustainable mobility for all residents and visitors.