Train passengers in the Netherlands will have to keep their bags on their laps or stow them in the luggage rack from now on. Will Belgium follow suit?
The Dutch railway operator NS wants to change the rules on trains so that passengers are no longer permitted to take up another seat with their hand luggage, NOS reports.
While it is currently not prohibited to leave a bag on another seat, the NS' terms and conditions state that passengers are obliged to remove it if another passenger wishes to sit in that seat.
As the operator finds that seats occupied by bags are becoming an increasingly significant problem, it wants to update the conditions to forbid this, even when there is plenty of space in the train. It is not yet clear when the rule will come into force.
Common courtesy
In Belgium, national railway operator SNCB-NMBS is not considering a similar rule, according to spokesperson Britt Monten.
"Every railway company naturally makes its own judgement on this, but we often find that simply being polite and asking the passenger is enough to sort the matter out," Monten said on Flemish radio.
During busy periods, train conductors can announce over the speakers that passengers should keep the seats free by placing their bags on the floor or on the luggage racks provided. "They may also address passengers directly when making their rounds during busy periods."
"From what we see and the feedback we get, this system works and is sufficient. People are more than happy to move their luggage off the seat if asked," she said.
People at the Brussels Airport train station gates. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
Should a passenger refuse to remove their luggage from a seat, other passengers can always call the train conductor. "I do realise that not every passenger feels confident enough to say something themselves, but the train conductor will approach the person and politely ask them to remove the luggage."
In "very exceptional cases", Monten stressed that the SNCB-NMBS security service, Securail, can also be called in to assist.
Passenger organisation TreinTramBus also believes such a rule would not be appropriate for Belgium, stressing that not putting your bag on a seat when the train is full is "a matter of courtesy and common sense".
They also raised practical objections, noting that there are hardly any luggage racks left on many trains, De Standaard reports.
