NS Sprinters: SGM

Sprinters in the Netherlands are easily recognisable by their blue and white livery. These trains are specifically designed to accelerate and decelerate quickly, making frequent stops along their route. In contrast, Intercity trains primarily serve large stations with fewer intermediary stops.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Netherlands went through a wave of suburbanisation, prompting the government to start the construction of planned cities such as Nieuwegein.¹ It was during this time that the Dutch national railway company, NS, released “Spoor naar ‘75” a plan outlining the future of public transport in the country. The NS emphasized the importance of aligning city development with existing rail infrastructure and implementing integrated fare systems across different transport providers.²³

Putting the plan to action, the NS started the construction and renovation of many stations and rail lines, while also making changes to their existing routes. In the 1970 timetable, a clear distinction was made between Intercity and stop trains. This connected commuter cities to larger urban areas, providing improved accessibility and reducing the dependence on personal cars.⁴

To accommodate these new routes, NS needed trains that could accelerate and decelerate quickly and cabins designed for efficient passenger movement. For the first time, they were thinking of trains more like a metro service. Side note, this was also the same time the French RER began construction. The existing Mat ‘64 trainsets would not suffice, so the NS began outlining the specifications for a new type of rolling stock called Stadsgewestlijk Materieel, or SGM for short. In 1972, they purchased 15 test trainsets from Talbot, named Plan Y0, which were delivered and put into service on the Hoekse Lijn in 1975.⁵

These new electric trains, with a maximum speed of 125 km/h, consisted of two cars and started to become increasingly visible throughout the Netherlands. It was because of their frequency and speed that they were given the nickname Sprinter.

Within just two years, an additional 60 SGM trainsets, called Plan Y1, were ordered. They started being delivered and introduced into passenger service by 1978. Around this time, NS recognized the need for more seating capacity, so they ordered non-motorized intermediate cars for the existing trains. Subsequent deliveries from existing orders would come as a 3-car set. Finally, in 1981, an order was placed for an additional 15 trainsets, bringing the total number of SGMs operating to 90.²

Between 2003 and 2006 most trains went through an overhaul, the interiors were re-done, and it got its blue, yellow, and white paint scheme. These upgraded trains were referred to as Stadsgewestlijk Materieel modernised, or SGMm.

As the SGMm approached the end of its service life, the decommissioning of these trainsets began in 2018. In 2021, the last SGMm in service, set 2995, was given its farewell ride along with set 2133, which was donated to the Railway Museum the year earlier. I’ve never gotten to see or ride on one while in service, hence the two pictures I got where from the Railway Museum in Utrecht. Maybe one day.

This post was a more in depth dive from this Mastodon thread.