Calmer travel
Enjoy a more comfortable journey and avoid crowding in the train. Discover our tips for a peaceful journey.
How to choose a quiet travel time
The bustle you experience in the train is often determined by the time you choose to travel. On weekdays, it is often busiest on the train from 6:30 to 9:00 AM and from 4:00 to 6:30 PM, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Avoid travelling at peak hour if you can, and choose a quieter time for your journey instead. The quieter times are as follows:
- during off-peak hours
- on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Cheaper travel
Travelling at a quieter time is often also cheaper. For example, NS Flex Dal Voordeel enables you to travel at a 40% discount during off-peak hours.
Prefer an individual ticket?
With NS PrijsTijd Deal, you can get up to 60% off your train ticket during quiet times.
Choose a quieter train
Our app has a few handy features that make it easy to travel in peace and quiet.
View the crowding indicators
The Travel Planner shows the expected crowding on your train by means of figures:
- 1 green figure: quiet, plenty of seats available.
- 2 orange figures: reasonably busy, some seats still available.
- 3 red figures: busy, possibly no seats available.
Sometimes choosing a slightly longer route or taking a Sprinter instead is a good, quiet alternative.
Receive a crowding notification
Plan your trip in the app and save your journey. By doing so, you can opt to receive a notification if there is crowding on the train.
You will receive a push notification if the train is busier than expected, plus an alternative travel recommendation.
Upgrade to first class
Did you know that you can upgrade from second to first class up to 15 minutes after departur,e if you have a NS Flex season ticket? This will give you more space and a quieter journey.
Choose a quieter carriage
Many travellers stand in the middle of the platform, close to the stairs or escalators, and therefore board the middle section of the train.
By walking a little further along the platform, you can board the first or last carriage. These carriages are often less crowded.
Help to improve crowding
Still too crowded in the train? Use our app to let us know, so we can take action. For example, we can deploy longer trains on busier routes. Your report will also help us to keep the crowding indicators up to date and reliable.
Help to improve crowding
