Trains in the Netherlands

[Railguy1]

I just came back from Amsterdam and was very impressed with the sprinter trains.

It was a fairly cheap and easy to get from the airport to the city centre. The trains themselves had leather seats - extremely comfortable - and even during 5-6pm from the airport into the centre, seats were still available.

The trains had large windows and felt very "airy" and easy to walk through.

My only difficulty was finding platform information at Amsterdam Centraal (south side), where the display matrix board was quite small and discrete.

I wasn't able to travel on the double-decker trains but they were mightily impressive, absolutely huge!

 

[DanielB]

The trains themselves had leather seats - extremely comfortable - and even during 5-6pm from the airport into the centre, seats were still available.

You're the first one I've seen describing the seats in SNG (AFAIK the only type of Sprinter stock on Amsterdam - Schiphol) as comfortable.
They are the infamous Fainsa Sophia, well known (or hated) in the UK as well.

As of the new timetable last Sunday the airport Sprinter was introduced, removing through traffic from the Amsterdam - Schiphol line which may have improved availability of free seats. (Previously part of the trains serving the airport were the busy IC direct trains from Rotterdam, these now go to Amsterdam South)

My only difficulty was finding platform information at Amsterdam Centraal (south side), where the display matrix board was quite small and discrete.

South side? AFAIK Amsterdam Centraal is in an east - west orientation

 

[rvdborgt]

South side? AFAIK Amsterdam Centraal is in an east - west orientation

South side is the side of the main entrance, I'd say. North is IJ side.

 

[MisterT]

which may have improved availability of free seats

I haven't driven the new Airport Sprinter service yet, but previously, on most of the trains between Amsterdam and Schiphol, there were plenty of seats available.
Ususally the front part of the train (from Amsterdam to Schiphol) or the rear part of the train (from Schiphol to Amsterdam) was completely empty because everyone just boards at the very first door they see.

 

[43096]

I just came back from Amsterdam and was very impressed with the sprinter trains.

It was a fairly cheap and easy to get from the airport to the city centre. The trains themselves had leather seats - extremely comfortable - and even during 5-6pm from the airport into the centre, seats were still available.

The trains had large windows and felt very "airy" and easy to walk through.

My only difficulty was finding platform information at Amsterdam Centraal (south side), where the display matrix board was quite small and discrete.

I wasn't able to travel on the double-decker trains but they were mightily impressive, absolutely huge!

Leather seats? More like plastic...

 

[philg999]

You're the first one I've seen describing the seats in SNG (AFAIK the only type of Sprinter stock on Amsterdam - Schiphol) as comfortable.
They are the infamous Fainsa Sophia, well known (or hated) in the UK as well.

In the UK they have these seats on Intercity trains on journeys of up to 8 hours! Local trains often have rock hard seats with no legroom which are uncomfortable after 2 mins. I think most visitors from the UK will find Dutch trains rather comfortable, including the SNGs

 

[wattman]

I very happy that visitors appreciatie our Dutch trains.

 

[StephenHunter]

Don't the Dutch have a bigger loading gauge than most of Europe so their double deckers can be a bit bigger?

 

[jfollows]

Don't the Dutch have a bigger loading gauge than most of Europe so their double deckers can be a bit bigger?

https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic_loading_guidelines-volume_1-01042024.pdf seems to have the details.
NS seems to be covered by I2 or I4.

 

[Bemined]

The Netherlands has at least G2 loading gauge on all lines, new lines use the slightly larger GC gauge.

 

[DanielB]

https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic_loading_guidelines-volume_1-01042024.pdf seems to have the details.
NS seems to be covered by I2 or I4.

I2 is UIC gauge so pretty standard, I4 is the bigger one (mainly higher).

With regards to the double deckers: VIRM is slightly bigger as it was specifically designed to make maximum use out of a standard gauge. Therefore it's sides aren't straight, providing additional width on the top deck.

It is tight however: there have been speed limits after Amsterdam RAI was just reconstructed as trains came too close to the station canopy following adjustment of track height (as the platform couldn't be lowered to comply with the new standards), but this is now resolved.
And the Schiphol tunnel now has an electrified rail as OHLE wouldn't fit between the top of a double decker and the tunnel roof after platform height adjustments.