No problems with train ticket switch

Wednesday marked the end of paper tickets on trains in the Netherlands, and so far there have been few problems, the NS said. Instead of buying single-use paper tickets, train passengers can instead buy single-use OV chip cards, though they are not sold in every machine at train stations.

Alternatively, customers are also able to buy a reusable, anonymous OV chip card from the machines. Other machines at the train stations are only available for recharging the cards.

The rail operator deployed 800 students in white t-shirts to help out passengers unaware of the switch, as well as NS staff members, according to newspaper AD.

The new system inspired one Utrecht museum to offer a large reward for the first-ever paper ticket, and a small cash prize for the the last-ever paper ticket.

Op station #Amersfoort, de thuishaven van de OV-Chipkaart, is alles rustig. Veel promotiemateriaal prijkt er wel. #NS pic.twitter.com/zDMEjpvvEo

— DvH_NL (@davevanhattem) July 9, 2014

Vanaf morgen geen verkoop en gebruik papieren ns kaart meer Andere ov tijden @OV_chip_kaart @NS_online @ROVER_online pic.twitter.com/tlP4dSWiCA

— Theo vd Heijden (@ctvdheijden) July 8, 2014