Travel more peacefully
The holidays are over and trains are getting busier again, especially on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the rush hour. If you want to travel more comfortably and avoid the crowds, you can find useful tips here.
Choose a quieter time
Rush hour on weekdays is busiest from 6:30 to 9:00 in the morning and 4:00 to 6:30 in the evening, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning.
If you can be flexible with your travel time, choose a quieter moment. Always check the Journey Planner before you travel.
Quieter times include:
- off-peak hours
- Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Save money on travel
Travel outside busy times is often cheaper too. With NS Flex Dal Voordeel you get 40% discount during off-peak hours.
Prefer a single ticket?
With NS PrijsTijd Deal you can get up to 60% discount on your train ticket at quiet times.
Choose a quieter train
Our app offers useful features to help you travel as calmly as possible.
Check the busyness indicators
The Journey Planner shows busyness indicators to let you know how full your train will be:
- 1 green figure: quiet, plenty of seats
- 2 orange figures: moderately busy, seats still available
- 3 red figures: busy, seats may no longer be available
Trains running earlier or later, or taking a Sprinter instead of an Intercity, can sometimes be quieter.
Receive an alert when busy
Plan and save your journey in the app to get alerts when trains are busy. You will receive a push notification with an alternative travel suggestion if your train is busier than expected.
Upgrade to first class
With an NS Flex subscription, you can upgrade from 2nd class to 1st class up to fifteen minutes after checking in. This lets you travel more peacefully with extra space around you.
Choose a quieter carriage
Many travellers wait in the middle of the platform near the (escalators) and board there. Walk further along the platform and board the first or last carriage, which are often quieter.
Help improve busy times
If you find the train busy, please report it through our app. This helps us take targeted action, such as running longer trains on busy routes. Your report also keeps the busyness indicators up to date and reliable.