NS introduces off-peak advance tickets

[DanielB]

Exactly, I presume that the rule that you must leave the train before peak hours start refers to scheduled rather than actual time of arrival,

It does, the terms and conditions clearly state this exception.

although I suppose if your train was due to arrive at your destination shortly before the start of the evening peak and gets delayed until after that time, and you are alighting at a gated station, you could potentially find your exit barred.

You'll always be able to leave the station. Otherwise you'd already have a problem when arriving at 18.30 hrs (perfectly legal with an PrijsTijd Deal ticket) in case you'd require more than 4 minutes to reach the gateline.
Entering a gated station is blocked however at peak hours, with a five minute grace period in favor of the customer (similar to the chipcard)

It also doesn't seem to make it clear whether this offer applies only to 2nd class fares (which I presume is the case) or 1st class as well.

The offer applies to first class tickets as well, according to a quick try in the app.

I agree it makes very little sense, I don't get what they are trying to achieve here

They're trying to push people out of peak hours and use trains at quieter moments instead. First they announced peak hours surcharges and even a quality surcharge (so you'd pay more when trains are more frequent, not really something a passenger could influence).
Those plans were rejected, so apparently this is a new attempt. Though the inflexibility of e-tickets, which are non-refundable, doesn't really contribute to the attractiveness.

And NS still seems unaware that their obsessive steering towards exact demand based stock planning actually makes off peak travelling less attractive.
When I still commuted by train they always made me wonder why I had less problems finding a free seat at peak hours compared to off-peak.

 

[johncrossley]

Presumably they already push people out of peak hours through their season ticket options (sort of like the south of England Network Railcard) giving 40% off during off-peak hours.

 

[Bemined]

With NS Flex there is no requirement to leave the train before the peak hours begin. If you make a journey from 15:55 to 17:30 you will get the full 40% off-peak discount. With the new ticket you have to leave the train before 16:00 to get the discount. If you check the journey planner the option to buy the advance tickets simply does not show up if any part of the trip is during the peak hours.

 

[DanielB]

Presumably they already push people out of peak hours through their season ticket options (sort of like the south of England Network Railcard) giving 40% off during off-peak hours.

Doesn't really help for regular commuters on a fixed route (which would have TrajectVrij, allowing unlimited travel on a set route), regular commuters on variable routes (having AltijdVoordeel, also giving 20% discount in the peak) and students (having a card for free* unlimited transport on either weekdays or weekends).
Anyone who has the ability to play around with their working hours will already have some kind of off-peak subscription already.
And as @Bemined already stated the check-in time counts for travel on an OV-chipcard. I also took advantage of that when the buses where on strike: checked in just before 6.30 (and just before 16.00 on the way back) to commute to work in the rush hour whilst still benefiting from the 40% off-peak discount.

*) The student product is not really free as it still is part of the study loan from the government and needs to be paid back when you don't meet the conditions.

 

[Connacht]

Just to spell out that these are in NR terms advance-booking Off-Peak tickets, not booked-train-only Advances. Makes far more sense in NL context!

Just so I am 100% clear, if I want to travel between A and B, off peak, these tickets are not for a specific service?

So as long as I depart A after 9am, and then I depart B after 18:30, the off-peak advance ticket will work on any train during off-peak hours?

Thanks.

 

[dutchflyer]

yes.
On paper/fone tickets one has to be OUT in the peaks. On chipcards one can do as above (and I myself also often do): only check-in during off-peak needed.
I also noted a few days ago that in some-not that many- cases long advance there was even a 60% discount offered-making for those who chase every cent it even better value as using the chipcard+discount.
But anyone who travels a bit moren regular and lives here will have far better value with the unlimited travel subscriptions (like all weekends for around 35€/month)

 

[eastwestdivide]

Just to add, I've successfully booked one of these from the UK via the NS phone app and using a UK-based debit card (although a Euro account).
First time it failed at the card confirmation stage, second time I got the "confirm in your banking app" message which worked.
The barcode ticket appeared in the NS app, and the email confirmation also gave you the option to go to a website and get a PDF copy to print.
Neither the app ticket nor the PDF show any train times or itinerary.
Saved myself enough for two days' sandwiches!

 

[DanielB]

Neither the app ticket nor the PDF show any train times or itinerary.

The time window requirements have indeed been removed from these tickets. Amusingly, NS didn't remove the variation in discount offered depending on the time of journey.
So you could actually select the trip with most discount and then use any off peak train.