Train drivers for the Dutch rail operator NS have begun using body cameras, a measure the company says is intended to improve the safety of staff and passengers. NS states that these cameras serve as a deterrent and can also be used as evidence in the event of incidents.
The decision comes after the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management granted a subsidy for the purchase of this equipment late last year. According to the company, all train drivers will receive body cameras.
NS says the measure acts as a deterrent
In 2024, one hundred train drivers participated in a pilot project with bodycams. According to NS, the results showed that wearing the camera increases staff’s sense of safety and has a calming effect on tense situations, which helps prevent incidents.
The company claims that the effect appears to be stronger in the evening than during the day. At the same time, the test showed that most passengers understand the use of these devices.
When the camera can be turned on
Train drivers can turn on the bodycam when they believe a situation may escalate or when they believe they are witnessing a criminal act. If the record button is pressed, the last 60 seconds prior to activation are also saved.
NS specifies that the footage can only be viewed by the driver and authorized company personnel. Recordings may also be requested by the police or judicial authorities. All recordings are automatically deleted after 28 days.
All train drivers are expected to be equipped by the end of the year
The operator says it will use the remainder of the year to roll out the system company-wide and to train staff. The goal is for all train drivers to have a bodycam by the end of this year.
Last year, the Ministry allocated 12 million euros for the introduction of these cameras. NS also says that employees in the Veiligheid & Service division—that is, its safety and response personnel—will receive new bodycams. They have been using such devices since 2018.
Other security measures are coming
NS says that bodycams are part of a broader package of measures for staff safety. In the coming period, the company’s first law enforcement officers will begin, on a trial basis, to carry batons as well.
At the same time, the ministry is working with ProRail and transport operators, including NS, on an action plan to improve safety at train stations, for which 20 million euros has been allocated.
Also in the second half of the year, public transport enforcement officers are expected to gain access to the train driver’s license registry, so they can verify a suspect’s identity on their own, without police assistance. The government is also exploring the possibility of accessing other databases within the justice and immigration systems.
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