NS to introduce push notifications to inform peak-time travelers of quieter trains

The NS is going to begin alerting train passengers during peak hours to quieter alternatives this fall. The rail company hopes this will encourage travelers to choose less crowded trains. Among other methods, NS plans to use push notifications to inform passengers about trains with more available seating.

September is usually the busiest month of the year for public transport, especially the peak hours on Tuesday and Thursday, which are often overcrowded. Despite this, according to NS, there are “also a lot of trains with plenty of sitting space.”

As an example, the rail company cited the Intercity from Breda to Rotterdam on Tuesday at 8:23 a.m. In that train, one-third of the passengers have to stand, and many travelers get off in Rotterdam. Three minutes later, another train departs from Breda to Rotterdam, in which more than half of the seats are still available.

“Every year in the fall, we deploy longer trains wherever possible, and we are doing so again this year. But there is a limit to that,” said Tijmen Voet, Director of Timetables at NS. “Running more trains and lengthening even more trains would require significant societal investments, if it were even possible. Those are costs ultimately borne by passengers and taxpayers. From a societal perspective, spreading demand is smarter.”

In addition to push notifications, NS also hopes to encourage better passenger distribution with a special discount on less crowded trains. The app’s “crowd icons” will show which trains are quieter.