NS starts testing check-in with debit card or smartphone

After several public transport companies where you can check in with your smartphone or your debit card, the NS is now also starting a test for this. This will be made possible for a group of travelers from the coming week.

Check in with your smartphone or pass at NS

As of today, the Dutch Railways will start testing contactless payments for checking in and out. This is of course already possible with the OV chip card. However, it must be made even easier, and that through contactless payment via a debit card, credit card or smartphone that are ready for contactless payment. In practice, this is also possible with a smartwatch that is suitable for this and therefore has NFC and on which your bank card is active. Payment should be the same as at the supermarket.

Several bus companies are already testing contactless payment in public transport. For example, at EBS in Haaglanden and Voorne-Putten it is possible to check in with your smartphone, bank card or credit card. The NS is now following, but it is still a trial. It should also lower the threshold for using public transport. After all, you don’t have to go to a ticket machine first.

In the period up to and including August 22, travelers at six stations will be invited to participate in the trial. These are the stations Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central, The Hague Central, Utrecht Central, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Delft. Here you can ask your questions and participate in the test. From 29 August, participants can travel in this way on all NS routes throughout the Netherlands. Then the gates can also be recognized by the payment logo for contactless payment. The NS emphasizes that there is no other way to sign up for OVpay, as it is called.

As with the bus companies, you may have to deal with a disadvantage when traveling with your debit card. Age discount and other benefits are not activated through this way. Travelers who participate in the trial can travel first class without extra costs until November 1 as a thank you for participating.