Fortunately, the corona measures are increasingly relaxed in our country. The NS has been running the full timetable again since 1 July. Certain measures against the spread of the corona virus still apply in public transport. One of the measures is the compulsory wearing of a face mask or mudguard for both travelers and employees of the NS. By wearing this mouth mask or splash guard, the main conductors of the NS can no longer whistle easily with the iconic mouth whistle.

That is why all over three thousand conductors receive an electronic whistle as soon as possible. The electronic flutes have been used abroad for some time. The whistles make a lot of noise, for the conductor it is nice that the whistle is now a little further away from the face and does not come in as loud as a whistle you have to blow. There is no audible difference for the travelers. Officially, the ordered electronic whistles would already be delivered in June, but this was delayed by international corona measures. However, a limited number was available in June, which the NS awarded to train managers on international trains and a number of main conductors to test them out.

"It is quite a beautiful thing and it just sounds real," says chief conductor Xander Philips. He has had the whistle for a month and a half to test. I had to pay attention that you don't whistle at your mouth, because then it sounds pretty loud. It also takes some getting used to for travelers, because some watch when you put your hand to your mouth. '

Meanwhile, the other ordered whistles are also in and all the main conductors of the NS an electronic whistle. In the Netherlands, it is required by law to whistle when a train leaves the platform. The intercity trains have an automatic whistle system when the train closes its doors, so in principle there is no need to whistle with these trains. Sprinters give beeps on departure so there must be a whistle by the conductor on departure.

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