Last-second train entry gets couple €460 fine

A couple in Zaandam were fined 230 euros each for boarding the train after the departure whistle. The authorities accused them of "impeding the movement of public transport," they told broadcaster AT5. The couple arrived at the station several minutes before the scheduled departure of the train, and managed to jump on board just before the doors closed. That's when they noticed that part of a paper bag they were carrying was stuck in the doors. Two women working on the train saw the incident and immediately contacted the operator to open the door back up, but this was unnecessary, according to Sue-Yin, one of the two passengers. "It was a very small corner, the doors were completely closed," she said. The conductors told the couple they were too late for the train, and should not have jumped on, accusing them of obstructing the movement of public transport. Then they fined the couple 230 euros each. Sue-Yin argues that a small corner of the paper bag could not obstruct the movement of the train. The couple also does not understand why they received two separate fines. Such penalties may be imposed for serious impediment to train movement, a spokesman for NS said. "It is very dangerous to step in after the whistle and moreover, it is banned," commented the spokesman. "In the past, serious accidents have occurred," the NS representative said, noting that such delays can escalate into longer wait times and missed schedules. The couple are not satisfied with the explanation and plan to file a complaint against the NS.