DanielB
Member
The new timetable as of December 15th, 2024 includes many changes to the international trains to and from the Netherlands, which I'll summarize in this post. Full details are also visible in the journey planners like at bahn.de.
Also the ECD has a lengthy stop in Antwerp to be overtaken by a Eurostar and does not call in Brussels North, resulting in a journey like Rotterdam - Luxembourg actually taking 4 minutes longer using the ECD compared to using the slower EC instead.
- The current intercity Amsterdam - Brussels will cease to exist. Instead a new Eurocity Direct will run from Lelystad Centrum via Amsterdam South to Brussels South, calling only at Antwerp Central and Brussels South after Rotterdam. Journey time will be reduced to 2 hours and 8 minutes. This service is operated with Belgium-compatible ICNG sets (initially complemented with a few Traxx + ICRmh sets). Saver tickets start as of € 16 (Rotterdam - Antwerp)
- Additional to the Eurocity Direct a new EuroCity will run from Rotterdam Central to Brussels South (via the same route as the current intercity), operated by NMBS I11 coaches hauled by a Traxx. This doubles the number of trains between Rotterdam and Brussels from 16 to 32 a day. Saver tickets start as of € 10,10 (Rotterdam - Antwerp). More details at NS International.
- A new ICE service (224/225) will run from Amsterdam Central to Munich once a day.
- The Nightjet from Amsterdam Central to Vienna / Innsbruck is rerouted via the border crossing at Bad Bentheim and will call at Amersfoort Central, Deventer, Münster, Hamm, Kassel and Würzburg before continueing via the current route. As of April apparently the new Nightjet trainsets will operate on this route.
- The Nightjet from Amsterdam Central to Zürich HB is rerouted via the border crossing at Venlo and will call at Utrecht Central and Eindhoven Central prior to continueing to Cologne and further into Switzerland.
Also the ECD has a lengthy stop in Antwerp to be overtaken by a Eurostar and does not call in Brussels North, resulting in a journey like Rotterdam - Luxembourg actually taking 4 minutes longer using the ECD compared to using the slower EC instead.