NS app now shows facilities ‘nearby’

The Dutch Railways has started rolling out an update for the NS app that shows facilities in the area. You can immediately see where you are, for example, the nearest bus station.

NS Nearby facilities

Version 6.16.1 of the NS app is currently being rolled out. Thanks to the update, it is possible to check at a glance which facilities are ‘near’ in your area. This way you can see on the map where stations, bus stops and shops are, but also where you can take an OV bicycle, for example. This is especially useful if you are in a hurry and want to quickly see where to catch the bus before getting off.

In addition, new functions have recently been rolled out such as train detection and tips and malfunctions on the home screen. According to Ruud de Jong, product owner NS Lab, the reason for developing this function is that when analyzing the behavior of users of the NS app, quite a lot of journeys are planned with a departure time in the past: “This indicates that users in that situation are looking for the current travel information of the train they are currently on.”

For train detection you no longer have to search which train you are on. Shortly after departure you will automatically receive a notification and if you click on it you will see all the following stations on your route, with the corresponding stop times. The feature can also use ‘Wifi on the train’ if you wish. This is to make the function more accurate: “It’s an alternative to GPS. On the basis of train points, we can identify whether a user is nearby.”

availabilty

The update is not immediately available to everyone as it is being rolled out gradually. In the meantime, you can already download NS Lab in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to be the first to test the new functions. Also don’t forget to view this handy overview with public transport apps to traverse the country.

Thanks for the tip, Ronald!