THE NETHERLANDS | Railways

[Kuvvaci]

what about National Railways Intercity trains? Their speed?

[xlchris]

I never knew one of those trains is only being used in the Randstad area. I'm not that much in the other parts of NL so I wouldn't know.

[Timon91]

120 to 140 for regular IC's, I think. Some lines like Amsterdam Bijlmer-Utrecht and the future line Lelystad-Zwolle are ready for 200 km/h, but the top speed of those IC's is 160 km/h.

[Kuvvaci]

do you have intercity buses?

[convalescence]

Originally Posted by Momo1435

Right now it's 0 km/h, since it's not in service yet due to several technical problems causing too many delays.

But the 1st shuttle trains will go only 160 km/h, but they will be replaced by the weird looking trains that go 250 km/h (if they ever come into service, delays, delays, delays.) Plus the Thalys will do it's maximum speed of 300 km/h on the line.

Why do NS and SNCB order these new (and ugly) trains for their HSL? In both countries there are for example Thalys and ICE in service which are able to drive 300, so why do they take these new trains who are only able to drive 250?

Or if the Eurostar trains would be compatible to the signal technique in Netherlands, a connection between Amsterdam and London would be nice as well.

[Timon91]

Originally Posted by Kuvvaci

do you have intercity buses?

Yes, we have buses called the "interliner", but it's not as widely used as for example the Greyhound in the US, because we have a good train system which brings you to your destination faster.

[Timon91]

Originally Posted by convalescence

Why do NS and SNCB order these new (and ugly) trains for their HSL? In both countries there are for example Thalys and ICE in service which are able to drive 300, so why do they take these new trains who are only able to drive 250?

They wanted something completely new to show the Benelux identity. Like the TGV is French and the ICE is German. So I don't know how they got to this design, but I think they just held a contest, picked out the ugliest design and decided to build that one. The ICE and Thalys are really much nicer, I agree with you.

Originally Posted by convalescence

Or if the Eurostar trains would be compatible to the signal technique in Netherlands, a connection between Amsterdam and London would be nice as well.

Hopefully, but I guess plane will stay the fastest way of travelling between Amsterdam and London. Nowadays this train connection is still a pain in the ass and we are all hoping for improvent with the new HSL.

[Momo1435]

We got stuck with the AnsaldoBreda trains since they won the tender for these trains because they were the cheapest. The design of the train is by Pininfarina, so it should be good. But it just shows that even the greatest designers don't always deliver. It would've been better if they would've chosen for a tested design, then we could have got something better. Although I don't think a TGV or an ICE were in the race, since they didn't fit the specifications for the tender.

Originally Posted by Timon91

Yes, we have buses called the "interliner", but it's not as widely used as for example the Greyhound in the US, because we have a good train system which brings you to your destination faster.

Actually, since bus services are all regulated Intercity buses are only allowed on routes that aren't directly connected by train.

And we have the Interliner

image hosted on flickr


the Qliner

image hosted on flickr


and the Brabantliner

image hosted on flickr

[Kuvvaci]

thank you for the infos. I thin only Germany doesn't have intercity buses...

[xlchris]

This has won a price for best design. Chairs are higher so you can put your stuff underneeth it.

[convalescence]

This new railway infrastructure looks sick

but I don't want to know how it will look like in 5-10 years probably won't be white anymore...

[Timon91]

Which train type is that new interior with those higher red chairs?

[Momo1435]

It looks like the lower deck of a VIRM, but it's just a design study it's not an actual interior. Maybe something for when the trains are up for refurbishment, the only things that should be sorted is the legroom, the seat are standing a bit to close to each other. But the idea is good, there's not enough space to leave your luggage in the VIRM.



If that is sorted it could already be used for the DD-AR conversion to Intercity trains that will start soon.

[urbanfan89]

Originally Posted by Kuvvaci

thank you for the infos. I thin only Germany doesn't have intercity buses...

Apparently intercity buses are banned in France to prevent competition with SNCF.

[serdar samanlı]

Originally Posted by urbanfan89

Apparently intercity buses are banned in France to prevent competition with SNCF.

Really? I always thought intercity buses are everywhere.

[Kuvvaci]

than means you don't know about transportation..

[Kuvvaci]

how many stations are there between Amsterdam and Brussels with NS National Railways HSL ?

[Club_Dru]

HSL-Zuid stations between Amsterdam to Brussel: Amsterdam CS- Schiphol Airport-Rotterdam CS-Antwerp CS - Brussel South Station/ CS



The infrastructure is finished since 2006, but there are still sum problems with the safetysytem and most important, the trains still not delivered by the Italian manufacture AnsaloBreda! Originally the HSL Zuid scheduled for completion in 2007, it is now expected to open in mid 2009.

The new line is expected to shorten travel times for international and domestic services.

Amsterdam-Rotterdam 0:43 (currently 0:58)
Amsterdam-Breda 0:59 (currently 1:44)
Amsterdam-Antwerp 1:10 (currently 2:00)
Amsterdam-Brussels 1:44 (currently 2:40)
Amsterdam-Paris 3:04 (currently 4:04)
The Hague-Brussels 1:44 (currently 2:17)
Breda-Brussels 0:59 (currently 1:44)

left train NS 'HiSpeed', with a rental locomotiv to Brussel. Right train Thalys to Paris.








Amsterdam and the The Hague are upgrading their stations. Rotterdam and Breda get a totaly new station.

[Timon91]

It's a beautiful project, but there have been just too much problems. Hopefully it will open soon and turn out to be efficient, otherwise it's all been for nothing

[Kuvvaci]

Very nice info...

I noticed that HST has normal locomotive, why?