We all hate to see it: your train pulls in and passengers already looks like sardines in a can. An even more aggravating sight? Spotting a free seat among the hoards of people — occupied by a bag.
Now, we’ve all been the ones seething, but we’ve also all (at least once) been the owner of said chair-hogging bag.
However, the NS is putting an end to this common practice. From now on, you must either keep your bag on your lap or in the overhead compartment.
And that huge suitcase that you’re taking to Schiphol? It’ll have to squeeze into the space between two four-seat compartments.
According to the National Consultation on Consumer Interests in Public Transport (Locov), the NS has let this new decree be known: it doesn’t matter if it’s a quiet train, bags may not be kept on seats under any circumstances.
How are they even going to enforce this?
If the scathing looks of others aren’t enough to encourage someone to sheepishly remove their bag from a seat, how does the NS expect to actually enforce this new policy?
According to NOS, NS has said that conductors will speak with passengers, however they won’t go so far as to issue any fines.
They will also raise awareness using posters (which you may have already spotted in some Sprinters.)
A big pet peeve
While you may be groaning at this news, the research shows that bags on seats are a serious annoyance among train travellers in the Netherlands.
Speaking with NOS, Daan Zieren, director of passenger organisation Rover confirms this.
“It ranks in the top three of travellers’ biggest annoyances. Previously, people would remove their bags when the train was crowded. But now they increasingly pretend not to see the crowds, for example by staring out the window. Or people simply refuse to remove their bags.”
Anyone who has experienced a train through the Randstad after 4 PM knows this is true.
According to the NS, we could do with the help of conductors to fix this because travellers are less and less likely to confront each other.
Also true.
What do you think of this new policy? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
