NS cutting first-class compartments in 190 Sprinters to make room for more passengers

NS is decreasing the size of first-class compartments in 190 Sprinter trains to make more room for passengers traveling in the second class. According to the rail company, the conversion will create 3,580 extra second-class seats, while leaving enough seats for passengers who want to travel in first class.

According to NS, the conversion is needed because travel behavior has changed since the pandemic. Commuters and business travelers are traveling less by train due to work-from-home agreements. The first-class compartments in Sprinter trains are only 10 percent occupied during rush hour, while travelers in second-class often have to stand because they can’t find a seat.

The 190 Sprinters, about half of NS’s Sprinter trains, will be converted by the summer of 2026. First-class compartments will remain as-is on Intercity trains and trains that cover longer distances. According to the rail companies, first-class is still a popular choice in these trains.

Some regional train services, like Arriva in the north of the Netherlands and Qbuzz around Dordrecht, have cut first-class altogether. It is more efficient in terms of capacity, a Qbuzz spokesperson told NOS.

But both NS and Rover, the organization that represents travelers’ interests, are against scrapping the classes altogether. According to them, some people prefer to pay extra for more room, a guaranteed seat, and less noise, such as business travelers, but also people sensitive to stimuli.