DanielB
Member
As of the timetable change this weekend, the SGM stock of NS will retire. The trainsets, also named "Sprinter" due to their fast acceleration compared to the other stock that was around when they came in service between 1975 and 1983, mostly operated on suburban routes in the Randstad area. In later years they've also been used on other routes as the conversion of the Zoetermeer Stadslijn and Hofpleinlijn to RandstadRail (tram/metro) expelled loads of SGM to other routes.
The trains were last refurbished between 2003 and 2006 at Bombardier in Randers, Danmark where they got a new interior, additional doors and a new colour scheme. The two car units again got a first class compartment during refurbishment and the first 15 prototype trains were equipped with a gangway between the carriages (which they originally didn't have).
Services which were operated with the refurbished Sprinters were also being renamed from Stoptrein to Sprinter in the following period.
SGMm 3-car unit 2990 at Rotterdam Central, on its way as Sprinter 5047 from The Hague Central to Dordrecht. The retiring train meets the brand new train length indication on the platform displays here.
In their last weeks, the Sprinters operated services where SGMm was either long gone or rarely seen. This was combined with their regular services in areas known for slippery tracks, where SGM was also used to apply Sandite onto the rails.
Tonight the very last service is planned to be Sprinter 5688 from Zwolle to Utrecht Central, arriving in Utrecht at 01.09 hours. Providing the penultimate service isn't delayed by more than one minute, as this one is scheduled to arrive just two minutes earlier at Amsterdam Central.
The SGM operated services will be taken over by the newer fleets of Sprinters (SLT, FLIRT and SNG) as of tomorrow, also meaning that all Sprinter services will have level boarding and toilets as of tomorrow.
The trains were last refurbished between 2003 and 2006 at Bombardier in Randers, Danmark where they got a new interior, additional doors and a new colour scheme. The two car units again got a first class compartment during refurbishment and the first 15 prototype trains were equipped with a gangway between the carriages (which they originally didn't have).
Services which were operated with the refurbished Sprinters were also being renamed from Stoptrein to Sprinter in the following period.
SGMm 3-car unit 2990 at Rotterdam Central, on its way as Sprinter 5047 from The Hague Central to Dordrecht. The retiring train meets the brand new train length indication on the platform displays here.
In their last weeks, the Sprinters operated services where SGMm was either long gone or rarely seen. This was combined with their regular services in areas known for slippery tracks, where SGM was also used to apply Sandite onto the rails.
Tonight the very last service is planned to be Sprinter 5688 from Zwolle to Utrecht Central, arriving in Utrecht at 01.09 hours. Providing the penultimate service isn't delayed by more than one minute, as this one is scheduled to arrive just two minutes earlier at Amsterdam Central.
The SGM operated services will be taken over by the newer fleets of Sprinters (SLT, FLIRT and SNG) as of tomorrow, also meaning that all Sprinter services will have level boarding and toilets as of tomorrow.
