Everyone who travels with the NS knows the struggle of taking a train at approximately 8 AM on a weekday morning. You pray for a seat, but realistically end up standing, sardine-style, with your many fellow train passengers.
Believe it or not, NS is aware of this issue, and from today, Tuesday August 25, they have a new solution.
The NS is now offering cheaper tickets for anyone who opts for a quieter train on the fringes of rush hour instead of smack bang in the middle of it. The discounts will be offered as PrijsTijd Deals.
So that everyone can have a seat
According to the NS, the company is about to see its busiest month, with September bringing even more travellers than usual. In particular, they see a super-peak on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
However, if a small number of people just opted for less popular trains, everyone would have a seat. And they’re not just making that claim, they’ve come armed with the numbers.
- Example 1: If just 6% of travellers decided not to take the 7:46 AM Sprinter from Den Haag Mariahoeve towards Leiden Centraal, instead opting for a Sprinter 15 minutes earlier, then everyone would be able to sit on both trains.
- Example 2: Meanwhile, if 8% of travellers on the 8:49 AM Intercity from Zwolle to Amersfoort chose to take the Intercity 30 minutes later, everyone would enjoy a seat on both trains.
By offering cheaper tickets on the fringes of rush hour, the NS hopes to push more passengers towards these earlier and later trains.
Ok, how does it work?
According to the NS, you must purchase one of these PrijsTijd Deals at least one day in advance.
And just how much of a discount are we talking? That’s where the NS isn’t super clear. However, it’s worth noting that previous PrijsTijd Deals (which have been available since 2024) have offered discounts of up to 60%.
Speaking with NU.nl, an NS spokesperson clarifies that the discount for travelling on the edges of peak hours will average about 30%.
Traveller’s Association, Rover, also spoke with NU.nl. They welcome the extension of the discounts to include journeys on the edge of rush hour, but they also believe that more needs to be done to make it more effective.
Namely, they believe it should be possible to purchase the PrijsTijd Deals on the same day that you’re travelling.
What do you think? Do you think these new discounts will help you score a seat on your Thursday morning commute? Tell us your thoughts below.
