The first NS head conductors have now started their shifts wearing bodycams. According to NS, the rollout follows a pilot involving 100 head conductors in 2024, which showed that bodycams improved employees? sense of safety and had a de-escalating effect, particularly during evening shifts. NS plans to roll out bodycams to all conductors by the end of 2026.
For public transport workers, aggression is not limited to physical violence. Verbal abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour can quickly make everyday work unsafe. NOS reported that NS is introducing the cameras after trial results showed a de-escalating effect during incidents, with conductors describing fewer experiences of verbal aggression and a higher threshold for passengers to become aggressive.
The bodycams are not intended to record continuously as evidence by default. NS states that conductors can activate the camera when a situation risks escalating or when they believe a criminal offence may be taking place. When activated, the system also saves the previous 60 seconds. Access to footage is restricted to the conductor and authorised NS personnel, while police and judicial authorities may request footage when needed. Recordings are automatically deleted after 28 days.
This is exactly where bodycams can add value in public transport: they are visible, immediate and personal. A worn camera can help calm a situation before it turns into an incident. And when de-escalation is no longer enough, it can provide objective footage for reporting, investigation and prosecution.
But technology alone is not the full answer. NS is also training conductors before they are allowed to use the cameras, including when activation is appropriate. That matters. Bodycams are most effective when they are part of a clear operational policy, with proper training, transparent privacy rules and secure evidence management.
The Dutch rollout also shows that bodycams are becoming part of a wider safety strategy for public transport. NS already equips its Safety & Service employees with bodycams, and the new rollout extends this protection to conductors working directly with passengers on trains. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has allocated ?12 million for the rollout.
For ZEPCAM, the message is clear: bodycams are no longer a niche tool for law enforcement only. They are becoming essential safety equipment for transport operators, security teams and other frontline professionals who face unpredictable situations in public spaces.
The goal is not to record more. The goal is to prevent more, protect better and ensure that when something does happen, the facts are available.
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Sources
This article is based on publicly available reporting and announcements from: