Intercity Direct

Intercity Direct is a Dutch high-speed train service operating on the HSL-Zuid, connecting Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal and Breda. Intercity Direct replaced the Fyra brand as of December 2013; it is part of NS International.

Intercity Direct
Amsterdam–Breda(–Brussels)
route map
Amsterdam Centraal
Schiphol Airport
Den Haag HS
4x / day
Rotterdam Centraal
Breda
Netherlands-Belgium border
Noorderkempen
Antwerpen-Centraal
Antwerpen-Berchem
Mechelen
Brussels Airport-Zavantem
Brussels-North
Brussels Central
Brussels-South

History

The Intercity Direct train service uses the HSL-Zuid which went into service 7 September 2009.[1] An hourly domestic service branded Fyra by operator NS Hispeed was started on 7 September 2009 between Amsterdam and Rotterdam using TRAXX-locomotives and ICR-carriages. Initially the service was hourly and weekdays only. On 12 April 2010 service expanded to Saturdays and Sundays. As of 4 October 2010, frequency increased to twice hourly. Service was extended to Breda on 3 April 2011.[2]

An international service also known as Fyra between Amsterdam and Brussels started 9 December 2012 using V250 rolling stock of AnsaldoBreda. From 17 January 2013 this service had to be pulled due to undercarriage damage caused by ice and snow. As of June 2013 international Fyra service has been permanently suspended by both Dutch and Belgian railways.[3]

Due to the perceived bad reputation of the Fyra brand, the domestic service rebranded into Intercity Direct as of December 2013.[4]

Services
OV-Chipcard card reader for paying the Intercity Direct supplement

Intercity Direct offers the following services:

  • 2 trains per hour: Amsterdam Centraal – Schiphol – Rotterdam Centraal – Breda
  • 2 trains per hour: Amsterdam Centraal - Schiphol - Rotterdam Centraal
 Class  Illustration  Type   Top speed   Number   Routes operated   Built 
 mph  km/h 
Class 186 Traxx Locomotive 100 160 ?

Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam - Breda,
Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam
ICRm (Prio) Carriage 100 160 ?

Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam - Breda,
Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam

Supplement

A supplemental fare is required for any trip on the Intercity Direct that includes the Schiphol–Rotterdam stretch. Single-use supplements cost €2.60 (2020) regardless of the class.[5]

This supplement can be paid by touching an OV-Chipcard to a "supplement pillar", which can be found on platforms from which Intercity Direct trains depart. These pillars are similar to OV-Chipcard validation machines, containing a red "Toeslag" label. A bi-lingual sign indicates for which train the supplement is required. If the supplement was mistakenly paid, touching an OV-Chipcard to the same device within 30 minutes will cancel the purchase.

Journeys between Schiphol and Amsterdam Central, or between Rotterdam Central and Breda, can be made without paying the supplement. Paper international tickets for the trains which continue to Belgium normally include the supplement in their cost.

References
  1. "NS Hispeed launches HSL-Zuid services". Railway Gazette International. 7 September 2009.
  2. "Fyra shuttles run through to Breda". Railway Gazette International. 11 April 2011.
  3. "End of the line for Amsterdam-Brussels FYRA High Speed Train". AmsterdamTips.com. 4 June 2013.
  4. "Fyra brand extinguished". Railway Gazette International. 14 November 2013.
  5. "supplements Intercity Direct | ns.nl". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2014.


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