Train

May 5 is Liberation Day in the Netherlands, commemorating the country’s liberation from the Nazis in 1945. The day proceeds Remembrance Day, which honours those who died during the Second World War. Every five years Liberation Day is a public holiday in the Netherlands, and 2025 is was one of those years. I decided to use the day off and visit Keverdijk, a strip of road that sits on the Nieuwe Keverdijksche Polder, the road features a protected level crossing on the railway arch that connects the Flevolijn to the Gooilijn called the Gooiboog. Joining Almere to Hilversum, the Gooilijn itself also goes through Weesp to Amsterdam. I didn’t have a particular need to go there, other than that I’d been there a few months prior and thought it was a good place to watch and film trains. Read more...

In 1994, Deutsche Bahn (DB) placed an order for 13 ICE 3M trains. These were the international variants of the 50 ICE 3 trains that would enter service in 1998. The “M” in 3M stands for mehrsystemfähig, as the trainsets would be able to operate under different power supplies, initially for Germany and the Netherlands and later in Switzerland, Belgium, and France. To supplement DB’s order, the Dutch Railway (NS) purchased an additional four ICE 3M trains in 1995. The trains were built by Siemens and Bombardier and are closely related to the modern Siemens Velaro family of trains. Read more...

The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) operates bus, light rail, and commuter rail services for the population of New Jersey. For the purposes of this post, we’ll be looking at the River LINE, one of three light rail systems operated by NJ Transit. This is part of an ongoing series to explore Stadler rolling stock deployments in the United States, and New Jersey Transit was the first, in the US, to purchase from Stadler in the early 2000s. Read more...

The Dutch Railway, NS, has not been having a good week, in fact, this Monday NS reported the lowest punctuality score this year with 72.3% of passengers arriving to their destination with less than a five-minute delay, the average is around 90%. This week has been difficult due to several different factors. There were a few very unfortunate incidents between trains and passengers on the track on Monday. From Monday, no trains ran between Groningen and Groningen Europapark because of a land subsidence the day before after work on a bicycle tunnel, this would take a few days to fix. On Tuesday morning a car crashed into a train while part of a police chase near Oss, affecting the Nijmegen-’s-Hertogenbosch line. There is a overarching problem with international passenger and freight trains to Germany as works just across the border have begun. The list goes on. Read more...

In my last post, I praised the NS International app, while it’s user-friendly and frankly better than some of the other apps or websites I’ve used there is still room for improvement. I’ll use a recent trip to Leuven from the Netherlands as an example. The roughly 3-hour trip was booked over a month in advance and I was able to get a cheaper price through the Early Bird discount. Unlike the usual Flex fare ticket, you must take the same Intercity Brussels train as stated on your travel itinerary unless any previous train you were on is delayed.1 I was meant to take the train to Schiphol Airport where I would catch the Intercity Brussels train to Mechelen and transfer to Leuven. Read more...

Train for Metz-Ville at Luxembourg station. This month I had to travel to Metz and decided to book the trip by train from Utrecht. The other option was to fly from the Netherlands to Luxembourg and take the train across the border to Metz, France. I’m happy to say the 7-hour journey by train went great. There were a few minutes of delay in places but the transfer times between trains were enough of a buffer. Read more...

At the time of writing this, the 50:HERTZ Club Train should be returning to Amsterdam Centraal after its final trip for the weekend. The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is held every October with conferences and festivals for professionals in the industry and festivalgoers. This year 50:HERTZ organised the “Club Train” consisting of eight separate 4-ish hour trips all starting and ending at Amsterdam Centraal. The trips were between Friday 18th October and Sunday 20th October each with their line-up of DJs with stages (or clubs) per train ride. The line-up and times can be found on the ADE website but I’ll also summarise the list here: Read more...

Tucked away in the fields of Bussnang, Switzerland is the headquarters of one of the world’s largest railway equipment manufacturers, Stadler Rail. Well-known for its configurable high-speed, intercity, and regional trains such as the SMILE, KISS, FLIRT, and GTW, Stadler also manufactures trams, locomotives, and other custom equipment such as rack railway rolling stock. You can find their equipment being used in many countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Turkey, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and the US. Read more...

The Netherlands has a fairly large and busy railway network with close to 400 passenger stations on 3000 line kilometres and with its largest operator, NS, transporting over 1 million passengers per day. Where rail meets road there are over 2000 crossings throughout the country. That comes out to a crossing every 1.3 kilometres on average.1 Given the high density of rail traffic and the number of level crossings, the safety of road and rail users is important. The Dutch Safety Board has said taking into account the volume of traffic on both rail and road, number of level crossings and casualties the Netherlands fairs well compared to 25 other European countries. That being said there’s always room for improvement and efforts have been made to reduce the number of casualties most notably in the form of two programs, the LVO and NABO. Read more...

After years of delays, the drielandentrein finally started operating at the end of June this year. However, despite all the planning and waiting, the train connection between the three countries is not without its hiccups. Earlier this week, Rover, the public transport traveller’s association, expressed their disappointment with the reliability of the drielandentrein. For starters, Arriva still has staff shortages which started during the pandemic and shortages in train equipment. In an interview with L1 News, Arriva responded by saying they are actively recruiting and training drivers and take immediate action to repair any issues on the trains. It would be interesting to understand the nature of these equipment failures and if they were also observed during the tests. Read more...

The Dutch Railway, NS, runs a few long train routes in the Netherlands and at times these routes may seem a bit “illogical”. An example of this in the July 2024 edition of the NS Panel news brief is the route from Dordrecht to Venlo through Schiphol. This train starts in the south, travels north to Schiphol and heads south again to Venlo. Even with all the major stops listed on the platform departure screen, this route may still confuse some passengers, especially if other quicker train connections exist between the two cities exist. Read more...

Brussel-Zuid to Paris Nord routes between the High-Speed line Eurostar uses and the classic line used by EuroCity. Increasing both the frequency and capacity of cross-border trains is always a good thing, I’ve talked about this with the Drielandentrein between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany before. A train every hour that can be used by commuters between the cities of Luik, Maastricht, and Aachen. This was a route that previously required a transfer at Maastricht. Read more...

Traveling by train across countries has been getting a lot easier, especially within central Europe where everything is a bit closer together.1 We’ve got the Thalys (now Eurostar) doing 12 trips a day from Amsterdam to Paris through Brussels, and the actual Eurostar doing 4 trips a day from Amsterdam to London, via Brussels and Lille. There are also other relatively good frequency and direct services to larger cities at high speed. Similarly, for slower travelers at longer distances, there is the European Sleeper operating night trains between Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and most recently the Czech Republic three times a week. The travel times here are longer than on a high-speed connection but you’re passing through many more cities along the way. The general idea is also that you’d have a good night’s rest throughout the journey. In this same category, OBB operates its nightjet service to many locations, like Zurich to Amsterdam, via Cologne and Dusseldorf, or from Munich to Rome. Read more...

Timetable or schedule graphs visualise railway traffic on a route during a set time. Typically when these graphs are shared online they look like they’ve been created using jTrainGraph although I find it very difficult to get started. I attempted to use both Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc to some degree of success but only achieved what I wanted through by using R. This was made possible by a single StackOverflow question from 2011. Read more...

The MerwedeLingelijn stretches 49km from Dordrecht to Gorinchem across the Drechtsteden, Molenlanden, and Gorinchem (DMG) regions in Zuid Holland. The line is mostly single-track with passing opportunities at most stations. Like other public transport modes in the area, the trains on the MerwedeLingelijn are operated by Qbuzz. They began providing public transport in the DMG regions in 2018, taking over from Arriva. With that, Qbuzz also inherited 10 electric Stadler GTW trains to run services on the line. Eight of these trains are 3-car GTW 2/8’s and the other two are 2-car GTW 2/6’s. These trains were delivered and put in service between 2008 and 2011 while Arriva still ran the line. Read more...

The Venlo train station has a great regional express connection to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany every hour operated by Eurobahn from 5 am to 10 pm. The station also has stoptrein services to Nijmegen and Roermond along the Maaslijn, where they go twice an hour in both directions operated by Arriva. Lastly, it has an NS Intercity service to Dordrecht via Schiphol Airport, which is also twice an hour. As good as the timetable is, the services that connect you to and from the German train could be better. Read more...

This is the third installment about Sprinters in the Netherlands. In the first post we’ve taken a look at the emergence of more regional, sprinter-like services in the 1970s as the Dutch moved towards suburbanisation. This required a new trainset designed to provide stop-train services, which was called the Stadsgewestelijk Materieel (SGM) and was first purchased in 1972. After three decades of service, between 2003 and 2006, the fleet of 90 SGMs was renovated, extending their lifespan to 2021. We also touched on the failure of the Stoptreinmaterieel ‘90 (SM ‘90), which was supposed to be the successor to the SGM. In 2005, the plans for the Sprinter Light Train (SLT) were developed based on the proven Baureihe 425, following the failure of the SM ‘90. A total of 131 sets were ordered, containing four and six-part lengths, and delivery began in 2008. Read more...

Amsterdam is a busy city with residents, businesses and visitors often talked about for its good urban planning, offering a walkable city that is still accessible by car, train, metro, tram, and bus. To those who have lived in or traveled around Amsterdam you will have come across the metro and their blue cubes with an “M” and red R-NET band at the bottom. If you’ve taken the time to travel on the Amsterdam Metro, does it seem like a typical metro? Read more...

Between 1990 and 1994 eighty-one Class 1700 locomotives were built by Alstom. These were an iteration of the Class 1600 that came before, based on the French BB 7200. Over the years they were used in a push-pull configuration for DD-AR coaches, ICRm coaches, and others. By the 2010s most of the locomotives were no longer used and in 2019 the 1700 locomotives were only used to pull the IC Berlin train from Amsterdam to Bad Bentheim by NS. Designed to only support 1500V DC, the locomotive is then swapped for a German one which then pulls the passenger carriages to Berlin. Read more...

Well, it’s time to revisit the topic of leaf fall. About a month has passed since my last post on the subject of adhesion and leaves on the track, and it is time for a quick update. As of 8th November, ProRail has deemed it unsafe to operate trains between Utrecht Centraal and Utrecht Maliebaan, the home of the railway museum. The culprit? Leaves on the track causing the train to go incognito. Read more...

It’s that time of year again, pumpkin spice lattes are in at Starbucks, sweaters are making their way out of storage and leaves are falling off trees. That last point concerns this thread more than the others. Damp leaves and train tracks are not the best match. Wheel-rail contact and adhesion The train wheel and rail meet on a very small surface area, called the contact patch. That small area must have enough friction to start and stop the train. The term adhesion is used to refer to the coefficient of friction, or grip, between the rail and the wheel1. Adhesion is measured in Mu (μ), which is a decimal number between 0.0 and 1.0 (or more than one if the force of friction is greater than the normal force). The lower this value the more slippery the contact patch is meaning there’s less friction. Typically more grip is required to start a train than the stop it.2 Read more...

The year is 1992, Sir Mix-a-lot’s Baby got Back is on the pop charts, and the Dutch railway (NS) is dominated by the Mat ‘64 trains, with a fleet of 246 units. These trainsets were introduced in 1961, making them 31 years old by 1992. Also during this time, the original Sprinter, the Stadsgewestelijk Materieel (SGM) is only 17 years old and approaching the middle of its expected lifespan. Read more...

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 Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 24 June 2023 19:34 Recently, I had the opportunity to ride the Elizabeth Line, a commuter rail and rapid transport system, much like the Paris RER, connecting greater London to its core. After starting construction in 2009 it was officially inaugurated on 17 May 2022, the line goes from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east. As part of the construction, 10 new stations were built along with refurbishing some of the existing stations along the route making them more accessible. Read more...

European Sleeper is a Dutch startup created in 2021 with plans to run European night trains. Formed by Elmer van Buuren and Chris Engelsman, the train operator ran their first passenger service on 25th May 2023, from Berlin to Brussels, through Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp. From 2024, European Sleeper also plans on expanding past Berlin to Dresden and Prague. Since earlier 2022, I’ve been closely following the progress made by European Sleeper, anticipating their first ride. Although not a passenger myself yet, I was thrilled that this new train connection allows holidaymakers more sustainable, time efficient and dare I say entertaining travel opportunities. The Man in Seat 61 highlights some interesting travel connections that could be made using through the European Sleeper. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 14 May 2023 11:56 This weekend we have the series 7000 and 9000 manufactured by AnsaldoBreda for the #Madrid #Metro 🇪🇸, in 2002 and 2006 respectively. They're designed for the wide guage lines and come in single and dual-voltage variants as the metro system use both 600V DC and 1500V DC through rigid overhead catenary. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 6 May 2023 15:37 Not all Dutch trains are yellow! This is the Protos, an EMU built by Fahrzeugtechnik Dessau (FTD). Only 5 of these trains were ever put in service and they all run on the Valleilijn 🐓between Amersfoort and Ede-Wageningen operated by Connexxion since 2007. #train Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 30 April 2023 17:10 It's the weekend again, and it's time to spew information on my current rail obsession. The Netherlands started electrifying railway lines in the 1900s, and during WW2 concrete catenary masts were favoured because of the scarcity of steel. The Utrecht-Hilversum line was electrified in 1942 and received these unique horseshoe-like shaped portals nicknamed de Gotische Bogen (the Gothic Arches). Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 19 April 2023 06:38 And we're off! Behold the wasp, it's shiny and smells like brand new sneakers. #train #ICNG Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 2 | Source @PeskyPotato 19 April 2023 07:53 @phrawzty Indeed! Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 15 April 2023 15:18 Talgo, innovative Spanish train manufactuer, started experimenting in the 1930s with self-guiding wheels, articulated trainsets and aluminium train bodies with a low center of gravity to come up with the Talgo II. Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 1 | Source @PeskyPotato 15 April 2023 15:20 Talgo II was manufactured by American Car Foundry under Talgo's watch entering service in 1950 between Madrid, Spain and Hendaye, France, traveling up to 120 km/h. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 1 April 2023 09:31 We're spotting Jacobs bogies! A Jacobs bogie is shared across two carriages as opposed to two bogies per carriage. Pictured is the Thalys PBKA at Paris Nord, NS SLT, and NS SNG at Utrecht Centraal. #train Replies: 0 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 1 | Source

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 5 March 2023 11:39 Here's Lisbon's very popular #Tram 28E at Praça Martim Moniz. Carris operates 6 tram routes, 5 of which are served by these classic refurbished trams, and one by articulated trams built by Siemens/CAF and Siemens/Sorefame. Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 0 | Source @PeskyPotato 5 March 2023 11:42 p.s. locals frequently use the trams the move around the city, with a lot of tourists lines can get long. So if you are a tourist consider using the red tram which also goes along route 28. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 25 February 2023 14:13 This is an M2 metro set built by Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB). All fairly alike, the M1/M2/M3 sets were used when the Amsterdam metro first opened on 14 October 1977. They were nicknamed "Zilvermeeuw" (translates to Herring Gull) for their shiny stainless steel exterior. This set was the last to be taken out of service on 19 December 2015 as the newer M5/M6 series from CAF were introduced between 2012 and 2015. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 19 February 2023 20:20 This is the diesel-electric NS DE4 (and SBB RAm TEE) developed by SBB and NS for the Trans Europ Express and put in service in 1957. Five of these 4-part trains were built, each consisting of a power car, passenger car, dining car and control car. #train Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 1 | Source @PeskyPotato 19 February 2023 20:21 The trainsets were discontinued in 1973 and sold to Ontario Northland Railway in 1977. After trouble adjusting to the Canadian weather they were removed in 1992. They found themselves back in Europe by 1998 and eventually in the possession of the TEE Netherlands Foundation. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 17 February 2023 21:55 Last month Strukton showcased their battery powered locomotives at a press event with the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management. This isn't just a battery powered locomotive but can also be charged through overhead lines. https://struktonrail.com/our-stories/news/2023/01/state-secretary-gives-green-light-for-rail-terminal-lage-weide-and-battery-locomotive/ Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 0 | Source @PeskyPotato 17 February 2023 21:56 Strukton Rail previously purchased one NS Class 1600 locomotive and three NS Class 1700 locomotives, all built by Alstom. These were previously used to transport passengers with NS DD-AR double-decker carriages. Read more...

The contents of this post were originally toots on Mastodon, you can find the original thread there. @PeskyPotato 12 February 2023 06:52 It's the weekend and time for #trains! Here's the MI 2N "Altéo" a dual-voltage EMU from Alstom and Bombardier that serves the busiest rail line, RER A, in France and possibly Europe. Replies: 1 Boosts: 0 Favourites: 1 | Source @PeskyPotato 12 February 2023 06:53 I'm impressed with the efficiency at which the Paris metro runs. Before the MI 2N, single-decker MS 61 trainsets were used. The SACEM, a speed train protection system, was rolled out in the 1980s to allow shorter gaps between trains allowing for higher frequency on those trains. Read more...

I recently visited Disneyland Paris and I spent more time researching and experiencing the Paris metro system and the RER than looking up and preparing for Disneyland itself. Upon visiting the park in Disneyland Paris I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a railway line right by the park entrance. There was no crowd, no line whatsoever, just an elegantly designed station. Going up the stairs I saw the steam locomotive coupled to passenger cars about to depart. I just stumbled across a train! Read more...