Last year, the NS set up a special number to which train passengers can report nuisance via WhatsApp or SMS. To date, 2,485 reports have been received, the railway company now announces.
If you feel unsafe on the train or in any other way end up in unpleasant situations while traveling, you can send a message to 06 131 813 18. This will arrive at the NS Control Room, after which it will be decided whether action should be taken. . In half of the cases this turned out to be the case so far and security personnel or even the police took action.
Most reports (about 450) concerned violations of the NS house rules. This may have to do with noise in a quiet compartment or litter lying around, for example. Reports of arguing between travelers or being harassed by fellow passengers occurred 300 times. Begging on the train was reported about 250 times.
Nuisance in corona time
According to the NS does the corona pandemic affect the number of reports. Precisely because fewer people travel and it is quieter on the track, an unpleasant feeling can arise. At the moment it is no longer so self-evident to speak to a conductor. There were 26 reports of passengers not wearing a mask, while this is still mandatory.
The registration number has been officially in use since May 2020. In 2019, the first trial took place on routes in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is now active in every NS train.