Train travelers between The Hague and Eindhoven can travel with an extra discount if they board a quiet train. From Tuesday, during the trial, the following applies: the quieter the train, the higher the discount. The discount can be up to 60 percent, NS reports.
All travelers on the Eindhoven Central – The Hague Central route, and all stations in between, such as Tilburg, Breda and Rotterdam, can participate in the trial. A subscription is not necessary. However, the e-ticket must be purchased at least one day in advance. The travel planner shows the departure time at which travel with this discount is possible. The trial will last until July 3. It will then be examined whether the approach will also be tested on other routes.
NS wants to use this approach to prevent crowds in the trains and to investigate whether empty seats can be used more efficiently. Tjalling Smit, member of the NS Executive Board, sees it as a "logical next step" to encourage people to travel more by train. It may also be a solution for people who, because of the high fuel prices, prefer not to drive to the gas station too often, he thinks.
As an example of cost-conscious travel, Smit gives the intercity that leaves Eindhoven at 10.15 am for the journey to The Hague, with two thirds of the seats occupied. “If you take the same train, but two hours later, only a third of the seats are occupied. Travelers who opt for this train can therefore receive a 30 percent discount.”
