NS travel with debit card, that’s how it will work soon

Contactless check-in and check-out with your debit or credit card at all stations in the Netherlands where NS operates? NS will start recruiting participants today for a trial that will make this possible. A limited group of travelers can participate in the trial.

Travel with debit or credit card

This test not only makes it possible to check in and out with your debit or credit card, but also with your digital debit card on a mobile phone or your smartwatch. According to the NS, the aim of this trial is to make train travel even easier and more flexible. It is possible that people who never take the train leave the car more often because of this extra choice.

In addition, there are a number of other advantages. You no longer need to buy a separate ticket or use your OV chip card to travel by train without a season ticket.

• you no longer need to top up your balance
• always a card to hand
• no more purchase costs for the OV chip card
• one card less in your wallet
• paying for your train journey is just as easy and fast as a contactless payment in a supermarket

With this test, checking in and out for the train is just as easy and fast as a contactless payment for your groceries. You no longer have to go to a ticket machine to buy a ticket or to top up your balance, but you can check in immediately and quickly catch your train. It’s all about convenience, even if you don’t have a season ticket, you can use the train without taking an extra step.

That is how it works

Sign up for the trial

In the period from 15 to 22 August, you have a chance to be invited by NS to participate in the trial at six stations. These are the stations Amsterdam Central, Rotterdam Central, The Hague Central, Utrecht Central, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Delft. Make sure you are present at one of these stations between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., because then there will be NS teams. These teams will first receive travelers, answer their questions and then register them for the trial.

Traveling during the trial

From 29 August, travelers participating in the trial can travel on all NS routes in the country by contactless checking in and out with their debit card, digital debit card on a telephone or smartwatch, or credit card. NS has fitted all terminals and gates with new card readers for this purpose, with an image of an OV chip card and the contactless payment logo.

Participants travel without a discount or subscription. They pay for a second class ticket, but as a thank you for participating, they can travel in first class without additional payment until 1 November. The test only applies to making train journeys. Other services such as renting an OV bicycle or access to a P+R site cannot be done with a debit card.

Availability for everyone

With this test, NS wants to gain more insight into the experiences of travelers. The intention is that everyone who wants to travel by train without a discount or subscription will soon be able to do so with the debit card.

This year will also see the start of the roll-out of OVpay, the successor to the OV chip card. With OVpay you can also check in and out with a physical card, your telephone or debit card. Travelers who travel with a discount or subscription will soon be able to check in and out contactless with OVpay. Not all carriers and banks are yet affiliated with OVpay. The NS trial is part of this OVpay programme.

Do you think it’s a good idea to be able to check in and out contactless at stations? Let us know in the comments.