Amsterdam Area Closer to EU’s High-Speed Train Network
Connection of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area to the European high-speed rail network has come two steps closer with a new prototype train unveiled and a new service between Amsterdam and Rotterdam beginning.
Amsterdam-Rotterdam 20 minutes closer
On 7 September, the first high-speed trains travelling at almost 160 kph (nearly 30 kph faster than current service) will shorten the trip between Amsterdam and Rotterdamby 20 minutes.
But travel time will be slashed again next year, and other European cities will be connected to Amsterdam by high-speed rail at the end of 2010.
New high-speed train called Fyra
At a special event in Amsterdam recently, the prototype of the new high-speed train for the Amsterdam – Brussels route was presented by Michel Jadot, director of NMBS and Michiel van Roozendaal, director of NS Hispeed.
Named Fyra, this next generation of trains, currently being built in Italy, will travel at speeds of up to 250 kph when they come in service for the second half of 2010.
Faster connections to European cities
At about the same time, it is expected that high-speed service will become available between Amsterdam and Brussels. By the end of 2010, high-speed service is to expand between Amsterdam and Paris, London and Cologne.
“The unveiling of this train from AnsaldoBreda brings the connection of the Netherlands to the European high-speed network a step closer,” said Van Roozendaal.
Missing link in network
Fyra will “fill the missing link in the network that previously existed between Brussels, Antwerp and the North,” added Jadot.
The fact that it is TSI compliant (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) means Fyra will be the first high-speed train that can be operated on the entire EU network.
Test runs of prototype soon
The train presented is a prototype; the exterior is complete but the inside is fitted with measurement and test equipment. Test runs will start in the near future.
Depending on the test results from TSI and ERTMS (the European train protection system), it is anticipated that the high-speed trains will go into operation on the Amsterdam – Schiphol – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Brussels route one year after the start of testing.
The train journey from Amsterdam to Brussels - city centre to city centre - will take just 1 hour 46 minutes. This is more than an hour faster than the current time.
