NS: Buses on two routes to solve train overcrowding

From Monday NS will deploy rush hour buses on the routes Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Krommenie Assendelft and Castricum in an effort to alleviate overcrowding in trains on these routes, the railway company announced in a press release. These buses is a temporary measure and a test to see whether the bus is an acceptable alternative for travelers. Those who opt to take the bus - which will take 70 minutes to make the trip, while the train usually takes 20 minutes - will receive a drink voucher to compensate for the longer travel time. "These buses should alleviate the overcrowding in the trains on this route and make sure that everyone gets to their destination on time", according to the press release. The Society for Better Public Transport also managed to convince NS to make the bus fare a symbolic sum of 1 euro per trip, to compensate for the longer travel time in addition to the drink voucher, AT5 reports. According to broadcaster NOS, the buses proved an unpopular option on Monday morning. They remained pretty much empty, though there was not much incentive to opt for the bus as the trains weren't all that crowded. One commuter told the broadcaster that the buses really are not an option for him. "I can not arrive at work almost an hour later. The NS really must come up with something better."