“We are going to use smart technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), with which we can predict where the non-paying traveler is,” says Eelco van Asch, member of the board of directors in conversation with De Telegraaf.
The fine for black driving goes from € 50 to € 70. Does that make the fight against black riders easier?
“Black driving is a stubborn game. Some think:” I will glide through it. “But € 70 plus the ride price is taking it in. It is no longer smallness. People count: what is my chance of being caught?” With a higher fine and smarter checks, that gamble becomes less attractive: three years ago we wrote 180,000 fines, now we are almost 400,000! ”
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“That is no coincidence. We check more intensively, and with AI we send our teams exactly to the right trains. Black drivers feel the pressure, and that is precisely the intention.”
Who keeps an eye on those black riders, and how does that process work?
,, Our Safety & Service employees and conductors are the front soldiers in this battle. They hand over the fine: € 70 plus the price of the card. But we make it smart: pay on the spot, and you get a € 20 discount. It is direct, honest and keeps the minds calm. No envelope on the mat, but a quick settlement. ”
“That money flows to NS, and it helps to keep the public transport affordable. Travelers who pay appreciate that we not only write fines, but also offer service. It is a balance: firm, but fair.”
How does AI change the approach to black driving?
,, Ai is our secret trump. Imagine: an inspector at Utrecht Central gets a message on his app: ‘Train to Zwolle, 2:32 pm, high chance of black riders’. We analyze data – train types, times, stations, historical patterns – and predict where the chance is greatest. ”
“It used to be Giswer, now it is precision work. Our teams know exactly which train has priority. It is a cat-and-mouse game, but with AI we have a hawkless eye. And the beautiful? It does not cost a fortune; it is smart use of data that we already have.”
“We even surprise ourselves with the precision. Take an action at the Feyenoord stadium: we stopped trains between 6 pm and 8 pm, checked everyone, and took 100 black riders out in two hours! From students to commuters, all kinds of travelers. And the paying traveler? He gives us a thumb and people are indeed the in-lamp.”
Which tactics do the Dutch Railways use more to thwart black riders?
,, We throw everything into the fight. Large -scale promotions, such as stopping trains in unexpected places, where you don’t just get away. We close gates, such as at Almere Centraal, for safety and control. At events we do 100 percent entrance checks: no ticket, no train. Cameras zoom in on gates; Try to cheat people? We see it and talk to them later. ”
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“Even last-minute ticket buyers we catch and see from the time of the transaction whether the ticket was purchased when the inspector got it. And excuses about empty telephones? We have chargers ready for all devices to fix that! Our approach is a mix of technology, creativity and visibility.”
‘NS-Crimeefighter’ from Asch: “Travelers notice that the chance of being caught is growing” © Daisy de Pater
What is the end goal? No more black riders?
,, Zero black riders is a dream, but not realistic. We focus on ‘driving gray’ – people who gamble on no control. With AI, cameras and 850 Safety & Service employees Plus 3000 conductors, we make that behavior more difficult. It is a fair and affordable public transport. Every fine less is profit, but we stay sharp. “