Surviving the new train ticket

The rechargeable smart cards cost €7.50 and are valid for up to five years, and you can choose between an anonymous or personal card. Both options are valid across all forms of public transport in the Netherlands. “The OV-chipkaart aims to reach one single payment and travel system for all public transportation options in the Netherlands,” said Anita Hilhorst, spokesperson for Translink, the company behind the OV Chipkaart

Hilhorst added, “Our goals are to make things easier for the traveler, improve customer service, reduce fare evasion, enlarge public safety in and around public transport, flexibility in tariff systems, honest and quick revenue division and to provide logistic information.”

The biggest impact was on students who had NS discount cards. These discount cards allowed holders to travel with up to three guests on discounted tickets. Earlier, this meant that one could buy discounted paper tickets for their guests. Since the new system was put into place, Delta received queries from students about the discounts and whether it would be valid for guests using anonymous cards. If yes, then how?

Our email to the NS office at the time went unanswered. However, Delta reporters spread out across the country that summer to test this new system and bring you answers. Luckily, there were NS kiosks and officials at almost every major platform, and they were all very helpful. We were happy to report that guests could still avail those korting (discount) rates. As for how, here is a step-by-step explanation based on our own experience

1. Activate the discount
Once you have bought anonymous smart cards for your guests, you need to activate discount on it. The discount can be activated at the ticket machines at each station. The discount is valid only for a one way trip and needs to be activated again for the return journey.*

2. Present your card
Show your card to the reader on the machine. You will then be shown the balance on the card and a menu of options.

3. Choose your option
In this menu, choose Load Other Products (English) or Laden Overige Producten (Dutch). This will lead you to a page with options such as ‘Dagkaart’, ‘Dagkaart hond’, ‘Dagkaart fiets’ and ‘Samenreiskorting’.

4. Samenreiskorting
From this menu, choose the option: Samenreiskorting (same in English and Dutch)

5. Choose travel mode
Choose from 1st class or 2nd class (depending on what the primary NS discount is activated for). You can also load the money during this process if needed.

6. Present the card again
The reader will prompt you to show your card again, and activate the discount on it.

7. Final check
When you check in for the train, notice the display on the check-in machine – it should say ‘korting’ (discount) has been activated.

Note that the guest availing the discount must be travelling with someone who has an identity-based smart card with an NS discount. The discount is only valid for the times mentioned in the terms of the NS card. For instance, the 40% korting is only valid after 9:00 on weekdays and all day on weekends. The discount activated on anonymous cards is valid for 30 minutes after checkout and needs to be reactivated after that. It’s probably all very confusing right now, but it does get easier. Once you’ve activated the samenreiskorting once, you’ll be able to do it in your sleep the next time. Okay, not in your sleep, but definitely after your first cup of coffee.

*One of our anonymous chipkaarts had the samenreiskorting activated for over 7 hours after checking out. When we asked an official at Amsterdam Centraal, they couldn’t explain why.