NS VIRM! The Dutch DOUBLE-DECKER Intercity!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2021
- This week, I check out one the Dutch national operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen's (NS) double-decker VIRM sets on a journey from Maastricht, near the border with Belgium to the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam!
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Date of Travel: 6 August 2020
Class of Travel: 2nd Class
Rolling Stock: Talbot VIRM-3
Cost of Ticket: €28 (£24.90, $33.80)
Origin: Maastricht, the Netherlands
Destination: Amsterdam Centraal, the Netherlands
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Credits
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Fun fact: when the first NS double-decker was designed, the manufacturer had a choice to make. Two stairs up on the sides and one stair down in the middle, as in French trains at the time, or one stair up and one down? They invited people to come to the factory and to rush in and out a mockup train in large groups to simulate rush hours. Result of the running-up-and-down-the-stairs parties was that the "one stair up and one down" configuration works best to get as many people as possible in and out the train within limited stopping time at stations. This configuration of stairs is what you see in these trains.
Wow, very interesting!
As you have seen, they are clearly showing their age and the need for an upgrade. These trains are currently in the process of being completely overhauled with a more modern/up-to-date interior. The overhaul from their older counterparts (the VIRM1 series) has already been completed at this moment. The first overhauled VIRM2/3 series train is currently being tested and should be running in regular service somewhere this spring.
@@rubenmc6347 VIRM 2/3 krijgt een andere kleurstelling en interieur :-)
Look positively space age compared to Amtrak...
It's unlike Dylan not to arrive at a station a good hour before departure! 😳
Because theres absolutely no need to here our trains are very frequent sometimes even every 10 minutes
@@rubenmc6347 Arnhem Nijmegen also 10 minutes now (ik ben ook nederlands trouwens)
Just one hour? 😂
@@DylansTravelReports now, you'll make a good parent for that
You need not worry; should you miss a train within the Netherlands, you need not wait longer than half an hour. And in some regions, 6 trains an hour will be in service. And no reservation applies so you could easily aboard the next one.
Every time i watch, i am reminded of how much i miss travel 🥺🥺
😭
Same here
9:14 No trip to the Netherlands is complete without seeing at least one windmill.
And tbf, it's hard to miss them 😅
Yep. They’re always looking for green energy.
@@trainzandplanes522 WindMILL, It‘s a Mill, not Wind Farm
@@mstrmren It's greener than powering the mill with a diesel motor!
Fun/interesting fact; Due to the whole proximity of the Netherlands (this vid is actually a good example, in 2hrs from south to the north-west is one of the longest train rides you can get), no Dutch train will feature a bar/vending machine etc. The trains are mostly used for short commutes, and therefore people generally prefer buying at stations.
Trains in NL are more like busses rather than a full service experience. It is just a commuter thing rather than an airplane substitute. I do believe they are (and should) upgrade with some amenities like charging sockets etc.
That's what's going to happen. The new intercity trains ICNG will have power sockets on them. As do DDZ and FLIRT and SNG. These VIRm are from the 90's, where there was no such need at that time.
Tbh in the Netherlands it isn’t really needed for domestic trains to be an airplane substitution as there’s next to nobody doing domestic flights, it’s main rival is the car. And yes they are being refurbished and modernised as Quark said.
That's isn't completely true: new style local trains have electricity sockets and the new ICNG will be a firm update into the 21st century.
There's plenty of airline seats too, but these will be on the lower deck. On the modernised trains it is generally the opposite.
7:07 I'm afraid you have a bit of a correction to make there: there *is* space to store luggage on the upper floors. Indeed there are no proper racks, but the plentiful amount of space in between the seat backs and under the seats is more than adequate.
Thanks, Dylan! I loved. In your train videos, we live with you. It is always in all your videos a real train trip report, in which we can see the delays, the advances, the problems, the difficulties, the advantages, the troubles, the facilities ... It is fascinating. It's real life. That's why. We too were already late like you, and we had the same reflex! Usually, it's when you are late like that that you make the right decisions in a hurry and you don't regret them. If you weren't late you might have taken first class and paid a lot more. Otherwise, I love double decker trains. It's splendid. Congratulations to you, for your trip, for your trip report, and for our common passion! Thanks to you.
Thank you for your kind words 😁
First of all thank you very much for your content |I really appreciate that you do, you have helped me in so many ways through your videos! I have been on the same train a few times and couldn't agree more with your review! keep up the good work xx
Hi Dylan. Hope you are staying safe so far. We appreciate your hard work.
Love the NS personally. One of the best rail networks of all of the countries I’ve visited yet
For those who wonder why Utrecht Centraal is so big/busy despite the size of the city, it is because of its geography. Not only is it close enough to Amsterdam and other places for easy commuting, but it’s also a major interchange for lines going to/from all parts of the country. Most people passing through the station aren’t from (or going to) Utrecht, but simply passing through and/or changing between services there and never exit the station.
Good to see you are still Staying Safe.
Hello Dylan! Always look forward to your vids here and living thru your travels while on pandemic. Hope to catch up on the line in the Pacific NW one day! Cheers!!
You had a gorgeous travel day, this was so relaxing to watch! Love your videos!
Thanks 😁
Great vid as always!
Thanks 😁
Thanks for the quick ride and great trip report. Wish I was there, at least I can be there in spirit, thanks for the ride.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Loved seeing the Dutch scenery from the train. I hope to visit one day, once we are able to travel internationally again. The interior of the Maastricht station was just stunning.
Thanks for the video, Dylan. Stay safe and see you on Friday!
Maastricht station is currently being renovated to its original 1913 glory, certainly worth a visit in the future😃
Glad you enjoyed! See ya next Friday 😁
Great video, Thanks for mentioning PSV and Ajax's home fields as you passed by them on the train.
Thanks 😁
Great Video Dylan.I have been to Amsterdam twice and always found it a bit of a novelty to be going upstairs on a train having never experienced that before.
Thanks!
Beautiful summer sunset - just what we need to see in a grey and dark February lol Havent travelled by train in the Netherlands since the 90's (Hook of Holland to Maastricht) - looks a good service !
new video from Dylan? *clicking almost instantly*
You stole my idea!
Nice to had u in Weert my home town 🙂 and I keep enjoying this because I don’t have to do all this by myself just see u doing
Good job thanks Dylan, stay safe and look forward to your next vlog👍
Thanks 😁
Very enjoyable !!!
wow. youre really back trvelling in the New Year 2021 Pandemic.Good luck
Yes, in 2017, I did ride one of those trains. It was at 4 in the morning from Amsterdam Centraal to the Airport. quite busy BTW
I've been with train company a few times. I normally travel from Schipol Airport to Sneek. I love that train ride. I was really nervous as I had to change at Zwolle and Leeuwarden.
I’m now following you on every media you’re on.
@Dylan's Travel Reports i find the NS Virm/VIRMm very good and comfortable i traveled many times with that train type
Great video of my country !!
Thanks! 😃
Nice review. I never get out of my county in PA(USA) so doubt I'll ever get a chance to ride NS but I do watch a lot of the Netherlands train driver videos so some familiarity there. Too bad they don't keep their trains cleaner. They seem to be very efficient overall. Wondering if a comparison ride on the Switzerland train system would be appropriate sometime. Thanks!
Hi there! I’m living in the netherlands and i like to see your dutch travel video’s. I hope you travel anytime soon with NS.
( i’m sorry, i’m not VERY good in english....)
the architecture at maastricht is amazing
Your first seat was quite tight for legroom, just as well you moved. The toilet was a reminder for me of travelling on British rail in the 1980's at least you had some artwork to admire while using the facility😂😂😂😂. Great video.
The toilets on the refurbished trains get some Mondrian-inspired artwork, are quite a bit roomier and don't drop the result of their occupants activities on the tracks. A real improvement.
I travel with the VIRM quite frequently, because my internship is at the dutch railways as a conductor, i have a shift on some of them from time to time
Nice 😁
Good video i like the double deck trains been on a couple in France. Roll on the end of lockdown im going to treat myself to a trip to London with my ebike for a bit of sightseeing
Thanks!
Nice vedio . Thanks for sharing Netherlands train .
Thanks!
Hi Dylan, thanks for this week's offering from the Netherlands. The VIRM series double decker train seems to be quite well laid out and while graffiti and unsanitary waste bins and toilet compartment was a bit off putting, this train overall appears more homely than the Sydney ones I'm used to. As others have commented, the set you travelled on must have had a quick turnaround after an evening peak run or two and the cleaners just didn't have time to refresh it for your journey. This could be a problem for rail fleet controllers given the standards now required while COVID remains a threat. There simply may not be enough rolling stock assets to enable trains to be fully cleaned during service layovers. Either that or not enough cleaning staff to do a proper job - and I bet many cleaners have given up this type of work given the risks. Hope you are keeping safe and well. Looking forward to your next offering. Cheers from Michael.
This is likely exactly it. It's common for trains right after rush hour service or after a football match to be pretty dirty, just because they haven't had enough time to clean them yet! Trains tend to run at a very high frequency and capacity here, so scheduling in the cleaning is probably difficult.
amazing ❤️❤️❤️
I lived in Oss for a while in the early 2000's my wife worked as a Conductor for NS, rode it frequently - yeah the VIRM's were new when i was there
These trains were brand spanking new when I was there in 2004-2006, they are definitely showing their age now. Glad that they are getting refurbished.
Having travelled on these trains a fair few times, it's good to see this video. Had a Dutch ex so I've done the Eindhoven to Amster trip too.
Was amazed seeing these trains at first having being so used to the British trains
The last time I visited Amsterdam, I came in from the airport on one of these trains and it was brutal trying to get larger pieces of luggage through those narrow little glass doors at the end of each saloon. Lesson learned, I made certain to get a Sprinter train with a wide-open rapid-transit style interior for the return trip to the airport.
Yep, always go for the Sprinters if you have bulky luggage, for sure. They’re very easy to work with then. However, note that on some services/lines, they do still use old carriages that, while spacious and easily able to accommodate many passengers with bulky luggage, still have high steps to enter that make it very awkward if your bags are heavy. I’ve only encountered one of them in person, but I was moving stuff to my new flat at the time, so yeah…boarding was fun…😬
Generally though, the Sprinters are great. And they’re still very fast between stations, they just get slowed down by stopping at all the ones IC trains skip…
Maastricht train station is being renovated, much of its original splendor and decoration is being brought back so its well worth another visit in the future. If you should do so the regional train line Maastricht-Heerlen is quite nice. It has beautifull views of the hillside landscape. Along the route you find Valkenburg station, the oldest still operating station in the Netherlands 😃
I'm told Maastricht is nice so I'm sure I'll be back 😁
good evening dylan!
Hi Dylan, I like that this train is a double decker. What I don,t like and I agree with you is that this train is in dire need to be cleaned. The trash bin is dirty, the wall in the bathroom the graffiti needs to be removed and etc.Overall a really nice train trip!! Thank you for the video.Too bed no catering or cafe car. See you next Friday!!!
Shame you didn't have more time in Maastricht (local dialect seems to pronounce it Mestreecht) - it's a beautiful historic town and the home of Andre Rieu - he holds open-air concerts in the Vrijdhof (the main square) every July with audiences of 10,000 plus. For a couple of years I thought the station was a converted church because of the stained glass windows over the main entrance to the booking hall - needless to say, I was wrong! The main concourse outside is a pedestrian area since the built the underground cycle park beneath it. There are not so many shops in the station because of the proximity of bars, and shops around it - both across the road and around the outside of the building.
I've heard it's nice. Shame I didn't have more than 15 minutes there 😭
@@DylansTravelReports well, you could've taken the next train 30 minutes later 😝 unless of course you had to be somewhere at a particular time.
Leave the T of the end and the pronounce would be good, also it's Vrijthof and in the olden days it was a cemetery
@@denvertrucker906 In Limburgish, vriédhaof means cemetery. (idk how to write it in mestreechs, as I speak Venloos) It's like the german word Friedhof. Vrijthof is the dutchification of vriédhaof.
@@laurensklaassen6869 De Vriethof :)
Fun fact: see how, in the vestibules, there appears to be some sort of equipment locker in between the stairs? Those are remnants of the trolley catering service. In those spaces is - or used to be - a small lift that was used to get those trolleys from one level to another.
NS *do* still operate catering services on some lines, occasionally, but you have to be in luck to encounter them. And they don't use proper trolleys anymore; nowadays the poor souls have to make do with a clunky backpack-and-ginormous-front-pouch arrangement...
Ah, just now do I stumble upon a news report from the beginning of the month, stating that the rail catering services have been definitively discontinued.
Oh yeah, DSB in Denmark have been inspired by NS and have introduced backpacker catering on a select few of their services starting a year ago after 7 years of no catering on any services, including some as long as 5 hours in length! It's not perfect, heck we don't even know in advance if a train will have this catering or not but its a step in the right direction I guess. Especially from no catering, on a 5 hour trip, in a dirty train, with poor reliability and ticket prices as high as 56 euros on the day and only a tiny supply of discount tickets!
...Also another thing they've copied from NS in the last year or so is the Huiskammer concept which they've so far introduced their version of on 2 stations
@@drdewott9154 Oh that's pretty interesting. Thanks for the read!
I have live her for 2 years now and only once have i seen a snack service onboard.
These coaches are very similar to the GO service in Southern Ontario, (Canada). GO is basically a commuter service, and only covers a small portion of the province. There are no tables, or partitions, (one class only), and the seats are more like subway seats. The trains are very clean and well maintained however, and the staff are top notch.
you should check them out when the first refurbed one re enters service soon they are testing them now
i have been busy last 2 months. Catching up on U tube. Nice camera, sir!
Thanks!
Maastricht has a beautiful historic city center. I hope you got to see it.
I got to see it back in 1997 on a day's excursion there. And I agree, it is a fine looking place.
You got into one of the old generation VIRM, this one is from the era that you described. And they are actually refurbishing all the old ones to the newest generation. So you got 'lucky' sitting in the old one. I can assure you the newer generation is cleaner and has a more modern style!
I need to get over and try the new ones out at some point!
Yes, the train needed to be cleaner, well the restrooms anyway. Over all I enjoyed this trip. Thanks Dylan.
Though to be fair, these trains are used nearly all day on all sorts of routes. Some routes start at 04:00 and on some routes on some days the trains run through out the night. So During the day nearly all trains run at least every 30 mins or better (a lot of trains run roughly every 15 mins) until around midnight. So, NS has a very small window of opportunity to clean the trains thoroughly.
@@maxvandenberg955 That's true, and VIRMs aren't optimally designed for a quick clean in between operation. That's still no excuse for the often appalling state of the toilets.
I think the VIRMs were built with small elevators to allow the catering trolleys to travel through the train. On-board catering has been largely, if not totally, discontinued.
Agreed. And the elevators where removed after the upgrade
Got to like the double decker trains in the Netherlands.
I have been on 4 NS Virms. 1 from Hengelo to Utrecht Centraal, 1 from Utrecht Centraal to Alkmaar, 1 from Alkmaar to Amsterdam Centraal and 1 (a refurbished VIRM-1) from Amsterdam Centraal to Alkmaar, got a Sprinter back to Amsterdam Centraal a few days later then a ICD to Brussels and the Eurostar back to London St Pancras Intl. The Virm-2 and Virm-3 are currently being refurbished
@@rubenmc6347 The new seats on the VIRM are the same as on the ICD
Some time - if you haven't already done so - you should stop off in Utrecht. The station is listed amongst the top ten places for tourists to visit in the city and whilst this may sound a bit like a joke, it's an amazing place - ultra modern and designed to handle the many passengers that use it. The city is also pretty spectacular and well worth a short break, something we did whilst our son was studying at the university there. In many ways it's like Amsterdam, not surprisingly, but without the squalor.
Yeah, I was in Utrecht back in July. Very nice city 😁
Great video. I used to live in Germany and I admit the Netherlands was my favourite getaway destination. One thing I noticed from the NS trains and it's a huge difference compared to German DB trains is that NS trains are not so clean. I think the company should take care of it more. I personally like NS double-deckers, but in my personal opinion, DB RE double-deckers are still better in terms of cleanliness and seating with bigger tables.
Thanks 😁
I love the Dutch railways and especially love the double decker trains, wish we had them in the UK
Well you sort of do (or did, I know there was some controversy) have NS in great Britain under the name abellio, just not our dubbledeckers
@@blauw67 I know, abelleo are actually pretty good imo, but the double decker trains would be useful here I think, especially during rush hour
I think our smaller loading gauge would be a problem.
You should try out the newly refurbished VIRM's 1 and the just totally refurbished VIRM's 2/3! They really seem better and more cleanly as well! And the stations at Rotterdam and Arnhem are really nice! The station at arnhem even already have had a couple winning prizes for construction and beauty! And it's the only place in the Netherlands with Trolley busses still going strong!
In the Netherlands the only trains with beverages on board services are on the international trains from the Thalys, ICE and the Intercity Direct from Amsterdam to Brussels.
The VIRM's did had on board catering at the beginning. As you travel with an not refurbished one, you can still see the old catering lifts at both ends of each cabin.
I've heard a lot of good things about them! I'll have to check them out next time I'm in the Netherlands 😁
I’ve only travelled on that line in a similar train in the opposite direction, from Amsterdam down to Sittard (just before Maastricht) & the level of cleanliness was similar to your experience, but as you say the carriages are comfortable enough for the journey length.
What’s in the interior of Netherlands? I’m not familiar with either of those cities
@@210SAi When it becomes possible again you should schedule a visit. In my case, my brother is married to a Dutch woman and they now live in that part of the southern Netherlands, known as the ‘tear drop’ (look on a map) wedged between Belgium & Germany. It’s very pretty and the only somewhat hilly part of the country.
Great vid and I do love a double decker train.
But I have to agree that they need more care and attention... There must be less passengers in 2020 so surely it would be easier to keep the train clean...
Thanks 😁
VIRM (verlengd InterRegio materieel) is now being modernised. My most beloved type of NS rolling stock.
A multi use public transport card (OV card) allows you to put credit on it. Then as you check in and check out the actual price of a one way ride is deducted. That saves you the trouble of having to buy a separate ticket for every ride with train, tram, bus, metro or ferry. With it you can also rent an OV fiets (bicycle) in every city.
If you're spending more time in The Netherlands you could also get an OV card with your name on it. Then you can put a 1 month discount package on it to get 40% discount on any train ride outside peak hours.
I think the idea of purchasing tickets at the train station is that you may have the option to buy there. Buying online can be a good option too as to avoid some fees.
Hi Dylan. It happened again today. This was available for less than an hour and disappeared. With careful investigation I was able to locate it. I first noticed it around 11:30 am usa east coast time, approximately 4:30 British time. This had been happening quite frequently lately. Not fun as I enjoy and look forward to your videos. Thanks for all and stay well, Ron Devine.
Strange as I haven't encountered the issue myself nor has anyone else reported it 🤔
Ooo I do love Holland one of my Favorites for sure, Never tried NS, Usually Use ICE Between Germany and Holland, Might have too. might of done it on the airport route
DO NOT EVER CALL IT HOLLAND AGAIN ITS THE NETHERLANDS! HOLLAND ARE JUST 2 PROVINCES
@@TeamWolfmountain Don't be silly. The country has been known as Holland for many centuries.
@@TheSynecdoche that is not true? It has always been Kingdom of the Netherlands the Holland is just 2 provinces not the entire kingdom
Oh, some good advice would be to get hold of the OV-card, even if you are a foreigner but visit NL more than once, load it and just use it, it is much cheaper than buying single tickets from the machines.
Unless you put a discount pass on it, it is exactly the same price for trains (minus the €1 fee for using the ticket vending machines).
I want to see this guy try out the Sprinter service. Anyways, good video!
I hope NS sees your video or they have a survey to take so they know they need to clean up their cars and bathrooms. Graffiti appears to be popular there too.
I agree with the cleanliness of the NS trains. Perhaps they should be cleaned at their final destination and before passengers board before departure to their next destination, as happens on Southern Trains in my area of South London, particularly when they arrive at either London Bridge or London Victoria.
The trains in the Netherlands are usually clean. The train you were on is an old VIRM with the old interior, meaning it will look appalling. The new VIRM puts majority of regional trains in Europe to shame, so I recommend you try it, if you get the chance. VIRM 2/3 are on their way to get a brand new interior.
Hard to tell this time, as a regional commuter it’s about what you’d expect with the bonus of a 2nd floor (albeit dirty) - you can catch any train on a bad day, I know SouthEastern trains where I am, can be a little rough often. If it’s meant as an InterCity express, then it’s a lot more disappointing with no service, slow by European standards and average cabins but I think they have proper InterCity service above this - that said, his train was quite expensive for what it was. Not sure how to feel about this journey he took - but I still enjoyed watching it as always, imagining days past when we could actually move around.
Have you completed all your SNCF Oui travels? If not, when all this horror is over, I suggest Strasbourg-Bordeaux direct - yes, direct, no changes. It starts at 06:04 from Strasbourg and gets into Bordeaux St Jean at 12.01 - so not a lunch on the train, but yes to a breakfast. You can have a Gewurztraminer the night before, and be putting away a Le Rose Pauliac over lunch the next day (note - Le Rose Pauliac is not a rose, but the Co-operative version of other red Pauliacs - and unlike most co-operative grown wine, it can stand comparison with the best of them!)
2:21 note it's an Albert Heijn To Go, which is more expensive than a regular Albert Heijn. If you have the chance and time it's often wiser to get your food and drinks at a regular supermarket rather than at these (literal) convenience stores.
VIRM is my favorite, second favorite is the warmest diesel train STADLER GTW.
You should also talk about the OV Chipkaart :D I recommend everyone going to NL to get one!
That OV card is a disaster and has been from the start, cost a lot of people a lot of money, constant server attacks where people's data was out on the street, etc, etc, etc.
This automation fetish that designers and city planners have nowadays will come back to bite us in the ass, mark my words.
Not really surprised the train was a bit dirty since it was after the evening rush and they don't get cleaned that often. But they could do better.
That is still cleaner than a lot of loos I’ve come across on trains in Britain
The VIRMs can be quite dirty. Though it's a hit or miss. The modernised VIRMm and DDZ trains, as well as the newer Flirt and SNG sprinter trains are usually decently clean.
Okay just to clarify, it is actually more expensive to buy a ticket at the station, €1 per journey extra, so €2 for a round trip. Buy your tickets online at Ns.nl, this can be relatively short ahead of departure. You will get a QR code with which you can open the ticket barriers at big stations. Most Dutch travellers use a ov-chipkaart to travel, its a card which ussually automatically charges you for your journey based on where you tap in and out, which works for all public transport in the Netherlands!
That's quite a nice looking train, the engine "Face" has an interesting design. Oh no... a toilet graffited, that's a terrible shame, a virus that has infected the whole world virtually. The upper deck Cabin Design is so cool, despite the lack of luggage rack. Couple of beautiful Football Stadiums. Well, yes I have travelled in Holland trains, from Uithuizen to Groninga, I just don't think this is the same kind of train. But that one in 2000 was ok, I think it must have been an Intercity train. Groninga Station is beautiful though and so the city, the capital of the bicycle. Good review, thanks for the ride..!
All trains within the Groningen province are run by Arriva, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. They are all short distance Stadler trains, of Swiss origin (but mostly built in Poland). Kind of metro cars.
Lucky with such a clean toilet! Last time I entered a similar V-IRM4 it happend to be full of tags and gross like most V-IRMs are.
It was nice to see you got a windmill in the picture at Weert and again entering Amsterdam. I was dismayed to see graffiti inside the restroom. I think this is the first time I've seen that in your videos. Also, the dirty condition of the restroom was surprising. The Dutch have always had a reputation for serious cleanliness. What's going on? Thanks as always for another great trip.
Toilets on intercity trains tend to be…not great…😬 And also more likely to be broken.
Sprinters otoh tend to have great facilities, which are also explicitly designed for accessibility too.
The unrefurbished VIRMs still used 1970s style “holes in the floor” instead of modern septic tanks
You went through a no entry! GEEN INGANG.
Great video! With the Dutch you just knew you'd be on time! Yes, not the cleanest train in the station. One question...No mask mandate in the Netherlands?
As a dutch citizin myself, i can tell you that we do have a mask mandate and the past months the mask mandate has been expanded....
Thanks! At the time of recording, masks were mandatory on trains but not within the stations or shops.
U know Machinist Stefan and Cabview Holland (Vincent)?
They make cabrides across The Netherlands! 😁
I enjoy relaxing to both of their channels - I wonder if they know each other as well and are competitive? :-)
Back in 1994/1995 I traveled a lot by NS and in my opinion the trains where in better shape back than. The cleanliness was better, the paintwork was better (now at sometimes it's fading) and there was onboard-catering back then.
NS do provide cleaners on the trains however a deep clean is only done when the train is not in service for a good time. Majority of the people get off at the next big city so there is less of an issue with catering. however pre covid I have seen rail catering people walking through the train but they do not stay onboard for the whole journey.
Regarding on board catering. Because of the pandemic there was no catering, before the pandemic on some main lines there would be catering. However it was decided this week that catering won't return after the pandemic is over, since there are shops at most stations now. I don't mind it, since I don't buy anyway.
Schommelbakken. Swing buckets. I prefer the ICM ( the boeing type ones ), but before that we had the mat. 54 ( hondekop/dog face ). They were the heaviest trains in Europe, and very comfortable. When I worked for Wagon Lits I did prefer the older trains, they just went up and down and not so much horizontal swing, what you would have in lighter or higher ( like the doudlestocks )trains. By the way, did you know that the IRM ( before they were extended 3 to 4 and 4 to 6 parts ) they had elevators in them for the railcatering carts. Cool huh, elevators in trains. And they won a design award too. About them being dirty, you see that all of the time with public transport material, especially in the winter.
Cleaning, and thus taking them out of circulation, costs money. Too bad though.
13:41 I wonder how many times people have thought someone let 'er rip. :-)
The 1st class seats is not just another colour. In rush hour you can actually sit. That is mostly what people pay for, to make sure you can sit in rush hour (at the least a higher chance of).
Why don't you use an OV-chipkaart? Costs 7,50 to purchase and is valid for 5 years. No more buying tickets. Just check in like you do with a ticket, check out at your destination. You can add a balance to the card at the same place you buy tickets or have it added from your bank account automatically once the amount drops below a certain figure. You can even opt for a monthly bill instead of paying per trip. There's actually an extra fee of 1 euro per ticket if you buy it at the ticket thing. You can research everything online. I'm probably not the first one to suggest this, I imagine 😁 as usual, awesome review.
Honestly, I hardly ever take the train in the Netherlands but maybe I'll consider it next time 😁
Thank you for a very fair report. I have used the VIRMS, and yours was in a better state than any I have ridden in ! They are not really suitable for a journey of 2+hours either. I think the Dutch would be very amused that you have made Amsterdam their "Capital" , for they look to The Hague as such ! Best wishes.
You made an interesting point about the capital of the Netherlands. After the Napoleonic Wars, The Netherlands acquired what is now Belgium and became the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. To get their southern inhabitants on board, the new Dutch constitution stated that the capital would be shared between Brussels and Amsterdam, rather than The Hague. However, they never bothered moving the government institutions to Amsterdam, and really didn't share power with Brussels. We know how that worked out -- The Belgians revolted in 1830 and declared their independance. The official capital of the Netherland was never changed though, so Amsterdam IS still the capital of the Netherlands, despite all of the government institutions being in The Hague.
Or as we used to call it when it's constantly delayed for the daily commute, the Inter-Sh*tty . But no really, I did actually like the trains in NL ! Thanks for the nostalgia!