Violence against train staff is getting out of control, rail union VVMC has said in a call to politicians. The union says conductors and other employees of national rail company NS are increasingly being assaulted, threatened, and spat at by passengers.
In a letter reported by NOS, the union cites NS figures showing that reports of aggression and violence against staff more than doubled from 2,672 in 2023 to 6,442 in 2025. According to those figures, there have been 5,088 reports so far this year, including 1,368 involving physical violence and 105 threats with a weapon.
“These are no longer unpleasant situations,” the union wrote, according to NOS. “These are serious incidents of violence against people carrying out their public duty.”
The letter lists several recent attacks. In February, a conductor at Rotterdam Blaak station was beaten unconscious. The same happened to a conductor at Den Dolder station 6 months later.
On August 6, several NS staff and police officers were injured during the arrest of an aggressive passenger at Almere Centrum station. According to the union, one NS employee lost part of his thumb after being bitten, and a colleague suffered a broken wrist and torn tendons.
Lost powers
The union also complained that senior conductors lost their enforcement powers in 2022. Since then, they can no longer write up offenders themselves or check personal details in the national population register.
Senior conductors were given bodycams this year, but the union says that does not make up for the powers they lost.
A VVMC spokesperson told news agency ANP that the union wants more NS security and service staff on trains.
“Politicians can no longer make do with stating that aggression is unacceptable. Action is needed now,” the letter says, according to NOS.
Licence register
The letter follows the cabinet’s announcement on Tuesday that public transport enforcement officers will get access to the driving licence register. From Thursday, employers can apply to vehicle authority RDW for access.
Officers will then be able to use licence photos to identify fare dodgers and troublemakers who carry no ID, instead of waiting for the police.
