Safety at the station and on the train | About NS
All passengers should be able to travel safely. For this reason, safety is NS's top priority. We take multiple measures to ensure the safety of passengers both at the station and on the train.
Social safety
Safety and the feeling of safety at the station and on the train are very important to our employees and passengers, including during times when very few people are travelling. That is why NS spends more than 100 million euros per year on measures intended to increase public safety. For example, by employing specially trained personnel, installing CCTV, using safety measures and tackling graffiti. We regularly take action in collaboration with municipalities, other transport companies and the police.
Railway safety
The train is one of the safest modes of transport in the Netherlands. Fortunately, thanks to a wide range of preventative measures, accidents among passengers and employees are rare. Accidents or incidents where safety was an issue are always carefully investigated. We learn from such events, and we can take measures to prevent recurrence.
Training personnel
Our train drivers and head conductors are well trained and receive periodical medical and psychological check-ups. They also attend an annual refresher course, during which safety on the platform and on the train are dealt with. For example, by improving the 'route knowledge' of our drivers and by training personnel to recognise hazardous situations and respond to them promptly. For head conductors, safety during the departure of trains, among other things, is always an important issue.
Safety system
All the tracks that NS uses when transporting passengers are equipped with a special safety system (ATB). This system helps the train driver to operate the train safely. For example, by automatically intervening and stopping the train if it does not brake or reduce its speed quickly enough. All NS Reizigers trains are equipped with ATBvv; a version that also works at very low speeds. ProRail is implementing this system at an increasingly wide range of places.
Supervision
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) supervises rail safety on behalf of the government. This inspectorate looks into incidents and accidents. In some cases, the independent Dutch Safety Board conducts an investigation. The ILT publishes its findings annually in a rail safety trend analysis.
A special team of head conductors and train drivers gives educational talks at schools located near railways in order to warn the pupils of the dangers of reckless behaviour and vandalism, as well the consequences of aggression and group behaviour. For more information about the education programme, go to the following website: Luisteris(in Dutch).