Europe's WEIRDEST Train / NS ICM Koploper First Class Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
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Hello and welcome back to The Netherlands for a trip from Rotterdam to Utrecht!
Today we'll be riding a train that is certainly very unique, and one that I've wanted to ride for a long time. The NS Koploper has been on my 'to-do' list for quite a while due to its looks, let's find out why that's the case... I hope you enjoy the video!
Date of Filming: 6/6/22
Camera: GoPro Hero 10 Black
Operator: NS (Dutch Railways)
Departure: Rotterdam Centraal, The Netherlands
Arrival: Utrecht Centraal, The Netherlands
Cost: €20.74 (£18.39, $22.25)
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The Koploper is my favorite train to ride on. The seats are comfortable, there's enough legroom, and the train doesn't make annoying noises (unlike the double decker).
I agree 😊
i love the noises the VIRM makes
@@jappie. fr
VIRM doedelzak is anoying but the sound hes been changed and the sound of the VIRM is now beter. No doedelzak noices anymore!!
I hate the koploper, I prefer the VIRM or the SNG, and the DDZ is...yuck
Great to see you review my favourite and most-used commuter train in my home country! A few thoughts and remarks from a frequent traveller:
2:44 The €1 for tickets bought at the station isn't a deposit but a surcharge; you can't get it back after your trip. There's no surcharge if you travel with a bank card, smart card or e-ticket.
3:41 To nitpick: platform 2 is a side platform, platform 15 as well with the adjacent platform 16 being a bay platform (as you can see in the shot at 4:02). Also, I think you missed a zero ;)
4:41 The top speed of the ICM(m) is technically 160 km/h, but this is not reached during regular service since the classic Dutch train protection system (ATB-EG) doesn't go beyond 140 km/h and these trains aren't equipped with ERTMS.
4:56 In theory, the average railway staff member isn't authorized to handle the ramps and you'll need to book travel assistance (NS Reisassistentie) at least 1 hour in advance. But who knows, maybe you get lucky and it goes as easily as you describe in practice!
5:25 Fun fact: you happened to travel on the longest route that these trains regularly operate, 2h38 from Rotterdam Centraal to Leeuwarden!
7:18 The overnight service isn't quite comparable to the daytime one: it takes a detour via the Hague and Amsterdam to serve all the big Dutch cities in one go, adding more than an hour to the Rotterdam-Utrecht travel time.
10:51 Yep, the graffiti problem is a pain. I find it to be most noticable on the ICMs, perhaps less effort is put in cleaning because they've started phasing out?
12:59 Between Rotterdam and Gouda, you actually passed through the lowest point in the Netherlands: the Zuidplaspolder is almost 7 metres below sea level!
13:11 Rail catering on NS trains was permanently abolished during the pandemic. These trains are equipped with WiFi, and the same goes for most of NS's trains. Only ICR coaches (similar in look to the ICM trainsets) and SLT trainsets aren't equipped. You probably were unlucky enough to encounter a malfunctioning one. Most (90%-ish) of the time when I travel with ICM, the WiFi works fine.
Glad you enjoyed your ride, and hoping to see you back on Dutch trains more often!
Thanks for all the details
Can clarify that the grafiti issue is caused by multiple things.
Trains are heavily being used every day by lots of people in the Netherlands, so a lot of people see the trains, and because of that it attracts graffiti artists to spay paint over trains cause then a lot of people will see their art. Also trains are very accesable at night, as then they are at a big sidings with fences that you can easily jump over with pretty much no staff walking around, its an easy target for graffiti artists, this is however not the case at sidings/depots where there is a lot of maintenence on the trains.
Now the reason you find a lot of graffiti on trains like this is because these are good quality trains that travel pretty much everywhere in the Netherlands and don't need as much maintenence. So what NS does is putting these trains on the big accesable sidings that don't have a maintenence crew, as no maintenence is needed.
So graffiti artists tend more to those trains because these trains go everywhere which means more people will see/mention their art, and there is pretty much no staff around the places they store these trains.
(Also on a side note: The ATB-EG system doesn't go beyond 140km/h because most railbedding in the Netherlands don't like it when trains go over 145km/h because of the soft terrain here)
Thanks for the lovely interesting comment 😌
@@MTNLproductions Dutch train toilet graffiti has zero to do with "art". Graffiti can be art, sure, but this ain't made for that reason. This is just made to annoy people, to "stick it to the man". I have seen some awesome train graffiti, also in the Netherlands, but this is just vandalism and has sadly been around for decades.
@@MTNLproductions Artists? Really?
I live in the Netherlands and I ride this train almost every day. You have to sit at the engine part once, then you really hear the engine stretching and the electronics switching. That is really fascinating and then you really hear 2574.93pk What the engines deliver with them all
I use this train once a week from Enschede to The Hague, a ride of about 2 hours. I find this Koploper the most comfortable train in the Netherlands for long-distance 2nd class. It is just a pity that it has been neglected in recent years.
The design and idea of this Koploper train were genius. Until the 1990s, for example, three IC trainsets drove from Amsterdam to the provincial cities, and then all three were linked together. Passengers could walk through all trains when the train was running. Somewhere in the middle of the country, the three trains were disconnected and went to different destinations. During the ride, it was always announced which train numbers went to which destination. So travelers would then move between the different trains along the way.
NS later closed the front doors and it was no longer possible to change trains while running. However, this caused a nuisance, because NS was still running coupled IC trains for different destinations. If travelers noticed they were on the wrong train, they had to get off at the next station and get back on the other train.
But the coupled intercity trains for different destinations are becoming less and less common now that there are many more train passengers than in the 1990s. Today, three trainsets run to one destination, whereas only one trainset was used in the 1990s.
But another problem remains. An IC train set consists of 3 or 4 wagons. If a train set is full of passengers, other train sets may be less full, but passengers will no longer be able to change trains while the train is running.
And finally. In the 90s there was also mobile catering that drove through all train carriages. Now that is no longer possible because the catering cart has to change trains at a station and that takes a lot of time.
The catering carts had elevators on the early double decker IRM generations, as well.
The modern way is people with coffee backpacks, and it does actually make a lot of sense.
@@JasperJanssen it's been a loooong time since they walked around with backpacks
The link was very prone to malfunctions and thats why they were removed
@@heppieveppie4131 another comment said it was since the pandemic, which makes sense, of course. At some point they’ll become busy enough again (and labor will not be in as short a demand) that the backpack students will come back as free money makers.
But at the moment anybody they can hire at the prices they’re willing to pay is better used on different places than backpack catering.
I agree. The most comfortable NS trains.
Wonderful train, inside and out. By far the most comfortable train in The Netherlands. The seats are just great and there's enough space for two persons (there's an armrest in the middle too), unlike other trains. I also like the fact they didn't waste any space to other kind of seats. In other trains (especially the new models) they did, so that just leaves a train with less space. Trains like SNG are always so full. They did the same in the new intercity train. Just horrible. As far as I know every NS train has wifi by the way. The vandalism is horrible but it's quite difficult to stop, sadly.
Not all NS trains have wifi. As far as I know ICMm, ICR and SLT trains do not. VIRMm, FLIRT and SNG do have wifi.
@@luukmuller9646 I've been in the ICMm many times, only one time the WiFi did not work.
Agree... very comfy!!! 😉
I would assume the Koplopers got WiFi when they were refurbed, if they didn’t have it already
PS: they lost the koploper passage and doors long before the latest refurb.
@@luukmuller9646 I've definitely had wifi in ICMm trains before, and if I'm not mistaken, SLTs were actually the very first trains that got wifi when it was introduced as a pilot? This would have been around the time that they started replacing the SGM.
I’ll never understand the ideology of vandalism. 🤔. It serves no public purpose. To me a person who vandalizes has no self respect let alone respect for anyone else 🙁
You characterized the group of 'artists' correctly.
It's actually pretty sad how public places get ruined by graffitis.
I live in Athens, a beautiful city 🌆, but the situation with vandalism here is absurd...
Young jerks who think it's cool to paint some bullshit that crossed their minds into public buildings, in houses' walls, in every white area they find and outside and INSIDE trains.
It's not art.
He HAVE art graffiti is some public spaces but it was planned and conducted by professionals who painted sth normal and beautiful.
Everything else is hideous and makes the city look ugly and dirty.
There are even cases of other graffiti being sprayed apon artistic graffiti, ruining it....
Absolutely.
Problem is - the vandals themselves feel they serve no public purpose, so their only hope to make any mark on society is to leaves marks indeed.!!!!!!
Another problem is the western brand of "democracy".
In other countries they'd go straight to a labour camp to certainly serve a purpose for society.
And that's why other systems in the world have deep reservations about our so-called "democracy".
It's not democratic to infringe on the pleasures of other people.
Completely agree with you Rob 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
You get vandalized with ugly commercials everyday in public transport. By ugly corporations. This is payback.😂
This is our favorite train by the way! We love it!
I love it too 😻
This was my favourite train back in the 1980s. Back then they did have catering on board, and the connecting corridors between the different units was so the trolley with food and drink could reach the entire train. It's a shame they don't use that functionality anymore, but I guess it was too complicated, not useful enough, and when they stopped offering food and drink, it didn't serve any purpose anymore.
Unfortunately, the not-so-polished image of NS trains is fairly normal - they never really have spent the time and resources to make their trains tip-top. Nowadays, there is shortage of staff as well. The fact that the toilet was fully working already made me happy, since I try to take a roll of toilet paper with me as I regularly encounter public toilets without.
Haha sounds like a good plan 🙂👍🏻
I'm sorry but I disagree fully. Most trains are very clean, toilets work or don't work. It's hit or mis like on every other train on the planet. Battling against graffiti punks is a war you simply can not win. And a closed space like a toilet is an easy target for them. I think NS is doing a great job, I mean look at other countries where trains that are built in the 70's or 80's still plow around in their original look. Take Belgium the word refurbishment is utterly unknown to them. Or the UK, Germany with all older stock still driving around with maybe some renewal surface wise but not the compete overhaul as seen in the Netherlands. Can you believe this train dates from the 70's? It kept on being refurbished and renewed throughout its time. Getting updates and upgraded to the new demands of time. It's sad to see the koplopers go out of service due to the lack of level entry in some years in the future. I hope to see them live their 50th birthday.
@@wielvanhorck7215 I must admit that NS renovates its trains thoroughly, but after a few years materials of e.g. seats already show traces of wear as demonstrated in the video. I haven't experienced that much of a hit-or-miss with keeping up the condition of those materials and the overall cleaning performance by other companies.
@@wielvanhorck7215 Exactly what I was thinking. And Belgian trains are mostly covered in graffity.
Yeah, they get used haha, ALOT! Guess that wears them down. But again compare it to German or Belgium trains or even French ones.... Give me a Dutch train any day then.
> it wasn't nice with all the graffiti, i reported this to NS
> shows perfectly average NS toilet with no broken applicances
...
@@NonstopEurotrip Is this a reply? A response? Or just an indication that you don't care, at all, about anything? This is my first video, of yours, I've watched. Dutch trains run on time. They are all regularly upgraded. British trains don't run on time. British trains HAVE to have ramps and assistance BOOKED AT LEAST ONE DAY AHEAD. The TOCs limited the way we travel, by imposing THEIR rules on what powered wheelchair or mobility scooter I am ALLOWED to use on their trains. And Hitachi Class 800/801/802 are the ugliest trains in Europe.
First video, and I have to DRC.
Two weeks ago,you have 60k subscribers but today you have 62k.Congratulation bro.Keep going.And have a great trips in the future.
Thank you so much 😀
I am so nostalgic to see your report. I know the route Rotterdam - Utrecht so well (travelling along those cities many many years ago). It is wow, to see Rotterdam Centraal is so modern now. I used this railway station as a starting point for departing to southern countries. I do enjoy your review. And, yes the train "head" shape is so uniquely Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰🥰🥰
Maybe nice to mention, in the 80's early 90's there was a attendent with a Trolly also walking through the train, with Coffee, Tea, Soda's, sandwiches, candybars etc. etc.
They also used the coridors between 2 trainsets to provide passengers...They stopped it somewhere around 1993 or 1994, due to cost and not so much sales (so cost effectly no use anymore).
I wish that still existed!!
Few things:
- These trains do actually travel routes of 2+ hours. The very train you're on goes to Leeuwarden which is a 2,5h journey. In fact, the Koplopers are the trains that travel the most km's a day of all Dutch trains.
- The state of the train is not unusual unfortunately. However, the abundance of graffiti might be due to these trains having been planned to phase out already, but because of corona and other factors the new trains are delayed. I can imagine NS doesn't have the capacity to still keep these trains in tiptop shape in such circumstances. Granted, that's not an excuse for a journey you pay money for of course.
- These trains actually do have free wifi, as do most Intercity services. Generally speaking it's the stopping services that lack wifi, but not these units. It's horrendously slow though, but it's still there nonetheless.
Thanks for the info 🙂
Been riding these trains all my life, but never knew the first-class seats are reclineable!! 😵
😌😌😌
the jongest of these units have until 2028 as far as i know, so enjoy while you still can because they will get rarer as saan as the icng will enter service.
I take this train everyday. The service Rotterdam - Utrecht goes every 15 minutes. The train you took had as final stop Leeuwarden, which is at least a 3 hour trip. And there is usually Wifi onboard in Intercity trains. These trains are by far the most comfortable in the Netherlands and very pretty in my opinion.
Currently only a 15-minute frequency during rush hours due to staff shortage. Rotterdam-Leeuwarden is 'only' 2h38 ;)
And yes, definitely agreed. I love their comfort, only ICR gets close in my view (better seats and ride quality but no wifi and silent areas)
@@nibuanad yes those are basically the same coaches. But nothing beats the comfort of a loco hauled train.
I traveled from Antwerp to Goes Netherlands on 13/01/23 what a contrast between the trains the Dutch train was state of the art magnificent spotless designer theme throughout the station too was very high spec, the Belgium train stock is quite old however very efficient service and toilets are always clean and functional in my experience
There's WiFi available in NS Intercity trains, although it's always quite slow. (I'm living in the Netherlands and riding IC trains sometimes :)
Guess mine was broken 😂
Not in the ICMm trains, though. This train is old, but that's fine. ICMm is our favorite train!
The frequency on weekdays between Rotterdam and Utrecht is usually every 15 minutes, but due to staff shortages this has been cut back to every 30 minutes off-peak. WiFi should be available on all Intercity services as well as more modern Sprinter (local) services. NS has decided to replace on-board catering with more investment in catering at train stations duo to relatively short journey times in the Netherlands. Toilet cleanlyness has always been a disaster compared to other countries. But since the staff shortages overall cleanlyness has also declined significantly. Shocking and emberassing frankly. Im not that picky, but travelling by train in 2022 has been far worse than before.
Just use 4G or 5G
I frequently use the Koploper to travel from my city (Enschede) to other cities across the Netherlands. So far, Koploper is the most comfortable train I’ve ever ride. Although there are more modern trains such as the double-decker VIRM and DDZ, but they are somewhat much narrower compared to the Koploper and it affect the cabin size, hence the rider’s comfort. And lastly, yes the vandalism is a big pity, and I think this occurred on every NS’s Intercity trains. I believe NS has tried to get rid of these graffitis, but it’s pretty difficult to control since they just keep coming, unfortunately.
By the way, great video as always! 💪
Thanks so much 🙏🏻
I really like this type of train. It is the last train NS designed by themselves, other newer trains are standard products "off the shelf" and then adapted for NS. The Koploper train is derived from the standard coaches that are still in service today (seen at 7:00), but the Koploper train is a train set consisting of 4 or 6 cars. I think this train is the most comfortable intercity train in The Netherlands, because of the ride quality. The newer double deckers (seen at 7:35) have the tendency to shake a lot.
The first prototype of Koploper was developed from 1977, they were put in operation from 1983. Between 1990 and 1994, the last batch has been delivered.
About first class in The Netherlands: not worth the extra money in my opinion. Train travel is rediculously expensive in the first place. Going the same distance by car is cheaper when traveling with 2 people or more. First class is 80% more expensive than second class, it only gives you a bit more privacy and larger seats.
I agree with most of that 🤣
@Frank Leurs You're right, it is 3 or 4 cars.
Im lucky that I got a business card for work for first class, what matters to me is the chance to sit on the train, instead of standing. the vIRM does shake quite a bit, but so does the ICM. With the vIRM you just notice it more, especially in the top layer. That said, the vIR shakes more than the ICM. The shaking actually has a purpose tho, it decreases rust on the tracks, which allow for a better flow of the current that goes through them. Because they shake, they de-rust a large surface area than the newer, more stable trains.
@darknight8139 my guy, 80%??? where dit you get that number😂 its about 35 ish%
@@xx_colonel_medic_xx You're right, it is not 80%, it is 70%. Maybe I hit the 8 key instead of the 7 key.
If I plan a journey from Utrecht to Groningen (200 km), a second class ticket costs 28,80 euros and a first class ticket costs 48,96 euros. That is exactly 70% more.
Actually most NS trains including icm offer free WiFi (you can actually see the logo’s on the doors) however your mobile phones connection will most likely be faster.
Definitely is 😁
This train in 2nd class is the most comfortable of all trains!! The seats are perfect i can fall asleep in it aswell and if it’s dark outside then the lights in this train are not too bright and not to dark. A comfy vibe tbh i will cry if they are gonna change this in the future
vanaf dit jaar gaan de oude intercities, helaas voor jouw, vervangen worden voor de ICNG (IC nieuwe generatie). En deze heeft een veel feller wit interieur dat meer open is, dus wordt lastiger slapen denk ik, helaas! ;(
@@ingmarsteenbergen2619 hopelijk hebben ze niet van de stoelen die ze in de sprinter hebben. Sprinter ziet er mooi uit maar zit veel minder comfortabel dan die oude treinen.
@@jochembraad1760 inderdaad vind de sprinters er niet echt op vooruit gaan vind ik dan, maar oprecht jammer dat ze de icm gaan vervangen ik reis vaak lange afstanden en vind deze trein daarvoor echt het best qua stoelen en verlichting. Hopelijk rijden ze nog wel een tijdje door
Same with first class! 🙂
The NS are great sometimes at giving names with double meaning. "Koploper" translates to frontrunner, but also refers to the fact that you used to be able to walk ("lopen") through the head ("kop") of the carriage into the next one.
Indeed yes! 🙏🏻
Yes indeed, sadly the system had a lot of failures.
Did you know the koploper actually have a top speed of 160 KM/H but the Automatic train protection ATB prevents from running 160 because the max speed of the protection from the ATB is 140 km/H :)
Indeed.
Never realised that, always assumed that they ran up to 160 km/h.
These trains do some routes that are longer than 1-2 hours, for example the route from Rotterdam to Leeuwarden.
The Hague Leeuwarden
@@joost1453 Zwolle-Roosendaal
When I was a child the Koplopers always reminded me of a Boeing 747, simply love these trains.
Me too! That's what I used to call them 😂
@@NonstopEurotripDo you know they once had a fully wrapped KLM advertisement on one? That totally looked like a 747.
The coaches in the koploper sets are built by Talbot of Aachen. They are superb. Similar coaches were, perhaps still are, on the Benelux services. There also were long loco-hauled trains of Talbot coaches to Maastricht for example.
Weirdest looking train? It is one of the most stylish and most comfortable trains in The Netherlands 🇳🇱. The front is almost like a cockpit comparable to a Boeing 747. The train driver has got a good view over the railway tracks. In the past when connecting two of these trains you could walk through underneath the train driver cabin from one train to the other. A pity the NS stopped using this underpass.
Comfy, yes! Stylish, nope 😆
@@NonstopEurotrip Personal preference! It is a unique design, that is a fact and to me it looks beautiful.
@@maartenj.vermeulen900 Same here, love the look. It definitely reminds me of the 747 jet, which I also think is a cool looking plane!
I find the rubber-nosed Danish IC trains just as weird! Thanks for presenting the Koploper!
Thanks for watching! 🙂
The ICMm (yes, an extra m since it's modernized like you mentioned) is infamous for the graffiti that doesn't get cleaned. The NS currently has a huge shortage of staff, so they say they can't clean most of the trains properly. The older double decker trains like the VIRM (non-modernised) also suffer from graffiti issues in the inside. To be completely honest with you, compared to the other Intercity trains of our country I find the ICMm the most comfortable and pleasant to sit in. Even in Second Class. We can enjoy it for now, they will be phased out the coming years since they will be replaced by the ICNG trains eventually.
I agree! 😃
Funfact, this train has two conficurations. IC 4 and IC 3, with actually means; a head, two carriages and a head (ic4) and head, carriage, and head (ic3)
And you can have a combination of the two, toghether as one train 😊
Koploper trains are amazing, I always take it from Hilversum to my work in Amsterdam. Comfort is great, legroom is good, You now also can charge your phone. Will be sad that when they all are retired by the ICNG..
Thanks for the great video. Loved this short journey
Glad you enjoyed it!
This type of train is quite popular in Japan, the higher cockpit offers a further view for drivers to observe the rail (especially on snowy days).
Back in the days - Well at least 45/50 years (*danm* Now I‘m feeling old) - my parents took me for a shopping trip to the Netherlands. And thats one of the first trains I saw and it reminds me to be a Jumbo Jet on tracks ✈️🛤️
Thanks for sharing!
The most comfortable train on the Dutch network, without any doubt.
Absolutely 🤗
i know this train is a weird one but it makes sense
I AM SO FREAKINGLY HAPPY!!!
THE theme tune of all the theme tunes is back! ( with a rather cheery sax break, too)
Well I aim to please! 😃😃😃
@@NonstopEurotrip Sorry - still bouncing!!!🤩❤🔥🌏🚈💯😁
@@michaelmacdonell4834 🎉🎉🎉
I've always wondered why Bangkok doesn't rebuild its tram networks. There were tram lines in the past, but they no longer exist. Then the city changed it to roads. It has the potential to be one of the most effective mass transit networks in the city, second only to subway trains.
In terms of Bangkok's new central station, there are no shops, fast food restaurants, coffee shops, or souvenir shops, with a limited number of ATMs. Passengers are not permitted to enter the platform, even if they have tickets. Passengers have only 20 minutes to board the train after the call.
Another thing I like about this train is that there are areas where you can store your folded bike.
With the traffic situation, it wouldn't be plausible. Hence the elevated metros.
I sometimes take this train from Rotterdam to Gouda, although they usually go with the SLT as Intercity to Utrecht. But when I can get to be in this one, it's always a pleasant experience. There's really almost no noise coming from it, unlike some other Intercities. Seats are pretty comfortable too. but one complaint I have is that I feel like because there's mostly rows with only 2 seats, it gets crowded really quick so you have to be pretty early to get a seat for yourself during weekdays. Nevertheless it's still one of my favourite trains to take.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻
You must have seen the Hondekop (dog head) back in the old days :)
Seen but never ridden!
This type of shaped train has been very familiar to the Japanese since the 1960s. It looks like 583 series JNR express.
Indeed yes 😊
I think the JR E351 series looks more simular to the ICM
Love its design. It really resembles a long face dutchy.
😂😂
The design is not strange at all. Originally this type of trains was meant to be be able to open the front doors and couple to the next one. This design proved to be too failure-prone, so it was disabled and the doors were replaced by fixed panels. Otherwise it is an excellent design. I use it intermittently Deventer-Utrecht and Deventer-Schiphol vice-versa and I find it very comfortable.
As mentioned in the video.
There is in fact WiFi on board these trains, although sometimes it doesn't work or is turned off. Normally the Utrecht-Rotterdam corridor sees trains every 15 minutes, but due to staff shortages they only run a 15 minute service during rush hours.
Thanks for the information 🤠ℹ️
Don't forget to mention that the 8 seat compartments are "stilte" or silence-compartments. So no phones, no talking. You did a good job not talking at all! There are also silence zones in 2nd class
Thanks for the information ℹ️☺️
The main thing to remember is that its fast service, get you to point "B" fast. I enjoyed it
Indeed 😊
Nee, the fastest is by VIRM.
@@aleksander1982 what? VIRM(m) and ICMm have the same top speed (160kmh) and service speed (140kmh). ICMm accelerates faster than VIRM(m).
Back when the trains did allow for passengers to walk between the sets via the nose connector, the walkway was very narrow and claustrophobic.
I've never tried it 😭
It was intended for the trolley from Wagons-Lits and the conductor. There was a kind of frame near the left door where the trolley could be secured. Nobody ever used it.
Enjoy the Koploper while you still can... The most Koplopers are being phased out, and this one will too... Imo the best train for long distances we ever had in the Netherlands. Also the two seaters version in the old days were great. Leather seats which were really comfy. And yes..., Too bad graffiti is a common thing here in and on the trains.
Another 3-4 years i believe
This design lives on in Japan, with the newer E353 rolling stock still using it. That country also probably has the world's only sleeper EMU train (the 285 series on the Sunrise Express) that has the same nose design
These must be the most beautiful and graceful trains i've ever seen. They remind me of a centaur. There is a similar train in Japan. I love going to the Netherlands just to see this train in action. There are not many trains that attract my attention more. Maybe the "Fliegende Hamburger" or the early Hamburg Metro Trains
Oh I dunno about that Thomas 😂
I actually think that train looks kinda funky !!
Like it !!
I didn't say bad, just weird 😂
Great and interesting video as always. I like it very much once again. 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️
Thank you! Cheers! 😀😀😀
I worked in the Netherlands several years ago and travelled the whole railway network in 6 days. Travelled on 100 trains and only 1 was late, 15 minutes due to a level crossing failure. Trains every hour at the same minute so timetables unnecessary. Staff incredibly friendly and helpful. Trains clean. It was an amazing experience.
Utrecht is home to the Dutch National Railway Museum and there are trains which connect the mainline station with the museum.
Wow that's excellent. I had more late than that in 1 day. 😅
@@NonstopEurotrip It was a lot of years ago when NS ran all the trains. It was also at the time when the "hundekopen" trains were still running. Way back in 1994. 😁
What is with Dutch rail and vandalism/graffiti? It seems that they have more of a problem on their system as opposed to other countries. Thanks for the trip though!
Correct! Especially the restrooms are effected, because the 'artist' can close the door. And when there are few people on the train during the night, they can do it in the hallways. There is a shortage in employees, so less supervision and less cleaning of graffiti. Many 'artists' abuse the lack of employees to have a free trip and damage in the meanwhile.
Guess you haven’t been to Belgium before then, cause it’s a massive mess over there…
Belgium and France have similar problems
In almost every IC of the NS there is free WiFi. The number of passengers/day at Utrecht CS is approx. 207.000. That makes 73 million a year.
Rotterdam Centraal is easily the best looking modern station in the country. Other places have new stations, like Breda, but none of those look as good as Rotterdam Centraal.
Agreed!!
Very similar to the Japanese Azusa express trains with the raised front cab. E351 and E353 series.
Any many others!
The design is similar to trains built and run by the old Japan National Railways (JNR) with a very similar bluff front with opening panels.
Indeed yes! 😁
Fantastic video!👍
Thank you very much!
Rotterdam, my city, my home
fun fact about the roof 10,000 m2 of the total roof area of 28,000 m2 of windows are equipped with over 130,000 solar cells and yes those are installed on / inside the glass and a fun fact about the trains we use (iam not talking about the international trains just the ones ns owns) althoug most of them cant go faster than 140kmph / 160kmph (86mph / 99mph ) is because they cant and it isny safe, netherlands has a bussy railroad and if a trains goes faster the whole schedule is not lining up properly anoymore and because of the type of landscape we have here a lot of soil is peet soil we have here and that aint sturdy enough about the wifi, ns is improving and working activly to get even more trains modernised which means wifi acces and also the power outlets that you have in first class be availiable in second class(my bad if my english isnt 100% correct stil hoping u understand it)
Thanks for the information ☺️ℹ️
These trains, while very iconic and comfortable in their seating, are at or even past expiration date. You can often hear them struggling to start up.
They have too few seats for mainline services (rush time they are fully packed even while standing which is rarely a problem for Dutch VIRM and DDZ Doubledecker trains).
Graffiti in the toilets is basically standard in Dutch trains. Basically nothing is being done about it. Same with the toilets not being very clean. Unfortunately a given in trains in the Netherlands. You were lucky they worked at all.
On a sidenote yesterday (12-01-2023) one of these trains carrying 1000 passengers broke down between Gouda and Utrecht. Passengers were left without light, heating, food, water and working toilets for 5 hours untill they were finally succesfully evacuated. Unfortunately NS has become a lot less reliable the last couple years, partially due to an employee-shortage...
After these trains were refurbished in the mid 2000's they now DO have WIFI. problem is that the WIFI is very slow and half of the time it just doesn't work at all (all NS trains except SLT Sprinter units have WIFI by now).
I encounter a packed VIRM more often than a packed ICM :)
My experience with WiFi on ICM is much better, I find it to work well around 90% of the time. ICR coaches (on the HSL services) aren't equipped either ;)
Definitely no working WiFi in this one 😔
@@nibuanad VIRM top floor is not a great ride anyway. You get violently shaken on some junctions, e.g. before platform 11 on Hengelo when Entering the station from Enschede. Also no room for your backpack on the top floor.
I used these hundreds of times 25 years ago as a student. I almost didn't know they were still running, because they never get to my part of the country anymore and I don't travel by train often in the Randstad.
Soon to be gone 🥲
A beautiful train indeed
Beautiful trains...
Yes they are!
The standard off-peak reduction is 40%. I'd say that is pretty substantial, not "small". However, you need a subscription for that.
One tip for those using QR tickets in Rail Planner app and Google Pay for payments. The gates in the station can be opened also by chipcard. Those are prefered over the QR codes. So if you want to go through, first you have to turn off NFC in you phone
E-tickets must be loaded in the NS app nowadays, which automatically blocks other apps' NFC from activating.
@@nibuanad thanks, didn't know this. So my point is valid only in case if somebody is using interrail ticket in the railplanner app
@@patrikfiser3630 True, or a ticket in a foreign operator's app (such as DB). So indeed, good to be aware.
Thanks for the information 🐱ℹ️
Nice video! It is quite a nice train, and it's interesting to see an outside perspective of it. I love it's comfort and quietness, especially in the quiet carriages.
By the way, did you buy your tickets through the app? I know it's in there, but I haven't had to try it, and I'm curious what I can tell visitors.
Also useful to know: NS is planning to phase out these trains, replacing them with the new ICNg aka the wasp. So, if you want to have a ride on this, don't put it off for too long.
And being the picky Dutchie, I do have some corrections:
- While it does do the night run, it goes along a different route (Rotterdam -> Den Haag -> Amsterdam -> Utrecht instead of Rotterdam -> Gouda -> Utrecht), and only goes as far as Utrecht (not all the way to Leeuwarden / Groningen, alas)
- The discount tickets are only available to subscription holders and people travelling with them
- The Koplopers and VIRMs (double deckers) actually do have wifi onboard, but it's slow and not very reliable, so it might as well not be there
Thanks for the information 🙂ℹ️
@@NonstopEurotrip Thank you for the video!
There is wifi on all koplopers.
Not on this one...
Definitively not associated Netherlands with vandalism for sure!
Sad but true!
Groningen/Leeuwarden to Den Haag/Rotterdam is over2 hrs
You took a Short trip , but most of the time these type of trains, they go from Amsterdam via Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Deventer to Groningen and Leeuwarden...
Maybe it is flat, but there is enough to see, nice landscape this flat areas !
Nice video, but you missed a few things and there were a few errors.
Yes, NS has a habit of very dirty trains. Post covid it is even worse.I have a special twitter handle for complaining to NS. Before refurbishment the toilets were actually disgusting. Some footage I have would be instant demonitzing. Try slapping the seats a with a flat hand in first class. Trains coming dirty out of Storage. Not cleaning the Trains in Enschede, hello decomposing apple smells.
A koploper can technically can go 160km/h but is almost never allowed to do so. In general the top speed in NL is 140 km/h except on high speed tracks between Amsterdam and the border with Belgium. Max schedule speed is 130km/h. See the green signage allong the track. Only on certain parts of the railway netwerk they get up to this speeds.
Before refurbishment, I think some koplopers had rolling blind, usually broken.
As part of my work on helping students to create a train similator for NS in 2003/2005 that featured the koploper cab, II was able to do a cab ride of the koploper and DM90. I think I can still drive it but of course I am not certified. Most fun part was designing a training scenario of a route on Texel Island.
Certainly there is Wifi on the trains and it usually works but is a bit slow. There are gaps in cell coverage around Amersfoort, poor reception near putten and a blindspot between Apeldoorn and Voorst Empe.
I grew up on trains as a baby and later as a child train rides were measured in 200 page books hour I could read. There are quite a few routes that are longer than 2 hours. The train you took goes to Leeuwarden or Groningen. I used to drive Schiedam Nieuwland, Emmen a lot, which used to be 3.5 hours. There are a few longer ones that get you near 4 hours or sometimes over 5. I certainly would recommend first class for those longer trips or take an hour break in Utrecht. The railway museum at Utrecht Maliebaan is a must visit.
The line Hoek van Holland ot Schiedam is now a tube line. It used to be the the boat line from the UK to Moscow a long time a go. Not sure if they actually put trains on the ferry, I think they never did.
You can still travel by train to Schiedam Centrum to visit the largest old mills and the Jenever museum, the real stuff, not what you call gin. On your right you will pass the Van Nelle factory. Now a beautiful event center.
Between Schiedam Nieuwland and Schiedam Centrum there was a railway disaster on the 4th of may 1976, next to the Schravenlant lyceum highschool. Acually my old highschool. My dad helped with the wounded at that disaster.
Just outside Rotterdam you pass the zoo. Worth a visit. You can do some bird watching between Rotterdam and Utrecht. Did you spot the lone castle tower? Around Gouda it is a bit of a swamp. Nice to discover by boat as a tourist. Maybe next time let"s hear the announcement of Gouda for proper pronouncuation.
New Subburbia before Utrecht was part of Roman Limnes. Not visited the exhibition myself yet.
When you surface on the platform in Rotterdam you can still see some parts of the old station that was preserved. In Rotterdam they have nicknames for a lot of buildings. The station is called de Kapsalon, after the famous fusion fastfood dish named after literally hairdressing saloon. People from Rotterdam can be more direct than most Dutch people. Is it blunt?
There are discounts of peak and special tickets via the NS App, but usually a free drink or a sandwich, nothing special. I would double check Google map reviews before spending on more substantial meal deals. They sometimes are not great if you want to enjoy the following day.
Thanks for your comment ☺️
Thanks for visiting the Netherlands again!
Thanks again! 😃
@@NonstopEurotrip I would like you to do some more of the Dutch Trains, for example the SNG or the VIRM Flow!
@@HMWT next time I'm there, for sure!
actually, the Koploper is supposed to have WIFI, it even has the WIFI logo on the door at 14:42
That train looks like something straight out of 'The Man in the High Castle'
😂😂😂
I love Dutch IC trains they’re punctual and mostly reliable and the ticketing system is much more „spontaneity-friendly“. But I have to say I always feel like bc the country is so small and they go a max of 3 hours and at a very high frequency they seem more like a enormous long distance RER or S-Bahn style train to me mixed with a German regional train 😅 I don’t know how to better explain it, I think they fit their purpose perfectly but I would never wanna ride them for longer than 3h
Just so cool to see how the size of the country is reflected in their trains.
I get what you mean, very true!
The "cheese-with holes" building visible from 12:10 is a cinema. Playful Dutch architecture at its best.
Thanks for the information ☺️ℹ️
It's the 747 of trains!
That's what I call it 😂
It's not weird. In the beginning when two trains were coupled there was a walkway between trainsets that proved to be ineffective and had lots of technical issues. So in the begining of the 1990s the walkway was removed. And bytheway, this summer ICM trains will be slowly pulled out of service a d ICNG will took their place. ICM rides Dutch railways for 45 years and it's the oldest rolling stock in service by NS.
As mentioned in the video.
It used to be, up the early noughts I believe when you could go from carriage through carriage through those huge doors front and back. They open up and create a passage way between carriages.
As shown in the video, but due to increasing technical problems with the passage, the NS stopped using the feature.
As I showed 😜
That's one of my most favourite mugs in Europe. Unfortunately they are too old and I'm afraid they're gonna be scrapped soon 😐
they will be scrapped this year (planning was that they would be scrapped already but the replacement trains are delayed due to covid, and then due to design issues the first batch of trains were send back). But they are old trains, and having issues due too being old/wear and tear. I like their look a lot more than the new trains tough.
Same here. Unfortunately NS is just letting them rot at this point, not dealing with the graffiti on the balconies or fixing wear and tear on the exterior. Such a shame.
It's true, broken ones aren't be repaired anymore but used as spare parts.
Such a shame 🥲
@@melaniedrogr951 I think you're mixing up the ICM trainsets with the ICR coaches, which are indeed due to mostly retire this year as new ICNG sets enter service (though ICR is supposed to remain on the Amsterdam-Brussels service until late 2024 if I have my facts right).
The first ICM sets are indeed being retired since last year, and that process will be boosted by ICNG entering service, but afaik they will not be fully phased out until the new DDNG double-decker units are introduced (near the end of the decade).
And yeah, I like the ICMs as well, they're one of my favourite train types in the country. Despite their age I still find them to be the most comfortable (along with ICR), both in ride quality, seat comfort and interior.
The sprinter is amazing, always on time right on point, so you won't miss your appointment or whatever is is you need to be on time for.
Monthly pass is good, but I find buying single trip / enkele reis tickets and return are cheaper than actually using your OVchipkaart.
OVchipkaart requires you to pay e14,80 for the same trip that would cost you e5,80. e10,53 from Schiphol to Purmerend when it coul have been e5,80
The movie theater, which you can see when you enter Gouda, is build in the shape of a cheese. 😊
Oh wow 🧀
You can trust me, the Koploper is certainly not Europe’s weirdest train. That title can either go to the 60 year old Moldovan trains or the UK’s pacers.
Wrong. But thank you for the comment ☺️
Blijft wel echt een pracht trein!
Oh yes 😍
I unlike most if the comment section hate the koploper and prefer the VIRM due to its newer nature and more comfortable seating. It also accommodates for more passages which they can barely keep up with rn at my route
The koploper seats are much comfier 😍
@@NonstopEurotrip I dissagree also don't like how noisy they are compared to some VIRMs I've been in
I travel very frequent by train in the Netherlands, i admit i got used to graffiti. Because the trains are on duty so frequent, between Amsterdam and utrecht and Rotterdam and Schiphol every 10 minuten a intercity train departs, that They can't clean them properly. In combination with the shortage of staff, the NS is just doing everything to keep the current schedule up.
Very sad 😢
Distance is 56 kilometers and the nighttrains make a detour through Den Haag and Amsterdam. Making the trip 1 hour longer, but the price remains the same.
You might have enjoyed the landscape if you had been there on a bike or in boat, discovering it at a slower pace than from a train window.
Some of us Dutch enjoy our green grassy flat country and see different things everywhere. While others think it's boring...
That wouldn't have been great for making a train review tho!
Just a fun thing to point out that in your subtitles you said that the centraal station has 'coffeeshops' but here in the Netherlands they actually have a different meaning compared to cafes as you might know as well haha.
Nice video as always though big fan of this channel 💪
Coffee corners...
I know 😂
Regarding the graffiti at the toilets, the Dutch Railways unfortunately often has to deal with such vandalism. I will even go so far as to say that many trains are many times more heavily covered in graffiti, than this particular train. I have experienced plenty of traintoilets where literally all the walls (including the mirrors and toilet seat) were almost completely covered in graffiti. A real shame for such a special kind of train.
Otherwise, great review and video!
Yes I've certainly seen much worse too. Thanks for watching 🤗
This train is weird but nice too!
Absolutely 🤗
Also back in the day, you used to have 6-seat compartments 2nd class, teenager walhalla :D
10:25 here i am train spotting in the weekend
Yay 🤚
Most NS trains do have WiFi. It's also on board of these ICMm trains. It has the Wifi logo above the doors
Maybe I just got unlucky then!