Thread by @sTeamTraen

Some transportation notes for #SIPS2019 attendees.

First, remember that the Dutch rail network is basically a bus network on rails. There are no reserved seats and no discount fares for advance booking. /1

https://twitter.com/HeatherUrry/status/1133040592118697985

You can buy individual single tickets on both trains and bus/tram/metro. On trains this doesn't cost any extra but on the other modes it quickly becomes expensive. So it's worth spending 5 Euros on an "OV chipkaart". This will pay for itself after 2 days on the tram/bus. /2

You want an "anonymous" card. You can get this at Schiphol airport from the machines or at some of the newsstands. Then you can load it up with a credit card or (AFAIK) using cash at the railway station counter. /3

For US-Americans: You may find that the machines don't like your US credit card if it only has a chip and no PIN. Bring more than one card to improve your chances, or be prepared to load up with cash at the counter. /4

Once you have credit on the card, you can get onto any train/bus/tram/metro in the country. But you have to check in and check out for every journey, even if you are transferring from one bus to another. The only exception is if you change trains w/the same operator. /5

To get on a train, you must have 20 Euros of credit. To get on a bus/tram/metro, you must have 4 Euros of credit. The card deducts that amount from your balance when you check in. Then when you check out it reimburses you the difference between the deposit and the actual fare. /6

You can get an app that keeps track of your card's balance. It will even tell you if you forgot to check out so you can claim a refund (within reason). /7

When you are ready to leave, you can get the balance back in cash (e.g., at Schiphol train station, which is zero metres from the airport) if it's less than 30 Euros. Otherwise you have to fill in a form.

Lots more information here in English: ov-chipkaart.nl/home-1.htm#/ /8

Amsterdam-Rotterdam is €13 each way, plus €2.40 supplement if you get the non-stop train. A short tram or metro ride is about €1.50, but it's priced by the kilometre (unlike most countries where city rides are flat fares). €50 would be a good starting balance for SIPSers. /9

Another good thing for North Americans to get before visiting Europe this year is a TransferWise card. See transferwise.com/help/18/transf…. It lets you make € payments for minimal fees. (I have no affiliation with TransferWise other than as a satisfied cutomer.) /10

Update: I've just learned that the OV-chipkaart now costs €7.50 and not €5. It'll still pay for itself quickly if you plan to do anything other than get the train from Schiphol to Rotterdam and back. Buying single bus/tram tickets is deliberately designed to be a hassle.

To check in and out: On buses and trams, there is a reader at every door. On trains and metros, there are readers all round the stations. Just touch your card to the reader. It will say if you checked in ("IN OK") or out ("UIT OK") and show you your credit balance /12

When checking in to trains outside the Amsterdam/Rotterdam area, be aware that a few lines are operated by different companies to the main one (NS). You have to check in to the right company. This is unlikely to be a problem for SIPS attendees.

Also don't try to get on the "Thalys" trains at Schiphol. These do stop in Rotterdam but they are reservation-only international trains. You probably wouldn't succeed in getting on one anyway as I think they have security and ticket checks when boarding. /14