The Dutch rail operator NS has changed its rules regarding luggage transport. Passengers are no longer allowed to occupy a seat with a bag or backpack, regardless of how empty the railcar is. For now, the measure will not be enforced with fines.
Passengers on trains in the Netherlands must keep their luggage on their laps or place it in designated storage areas, after the national operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS banned the use of seats for bags and backpacks.
The rule applies even when the train is nearly empty. Until now, passengers were allowed to place their luggage on the adjacent seat, provided they moved it aside when another passenger wanted to sit down.
No fines, but warnings from conductors
NS will initially attempt to inform passengers through posters displayed on trains and in stations.
Train staff will remind passengers who continue to leave their luggage on seats, but the operator does not intend to impose fines for violating the new rule.
The measure aims to eliminate situations where seats remain occupied by luggage while other passengers are forced to stand.
One of the most common sources of dissatisfaction
According to NS, this phenomenon has become increasingly common, especially during peak hours when trains are crowded.
At the same time, passengers are increasingly reluctant to ask other passengers to move their luggage, amid a rise in aggressive incidents on trains and in public spaces.
The passenger rights organization Rover states that the occupation of seats with luggage ranks among the top three sources of dissatisfaction for Dutch passengers.
“In the past, people would remove their luggage from the seat when the train got crowded. Now, more and more people pretend not to notice—for example, by looking out the window—or simply refuse to vacate the seat,” said Daan Zieren, director of Rover.
Rover supports the rule, but not the fines
The organization believes the change is useful, as long as the operator does not start fining passengers.
Rover representatives believe that an information campaign and interventions by train staff could be enough to change passengers’ behavior.
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