Fyra
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 A V250 passing Dutch railwayvstation Vught |
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| Franchise(s): | International joint operation Service began in 2009 |
| Main station(s): | Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal, Breda, Antwerpen-Centraal, Brussel-Centraal Brussel-Zuid/Bruxelles-Midi, Den Haag Centraal, Noorderkempen, Mechelen |
| Fleet size: | 20 V250 sets |
| Stations called at: | 10 (expected) |
| Parent company: | NS Hispeed and NMBS |
| Web site: | www.fyra.com |
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Fyra (pronounced [fiːraː]) is a high-speed train service operating on the Dutch HSL-Zuid and planned for the Belgian HSL 4, between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Breda, Antwerp, and Brussels.[1] Fyra shares the high-speed tracks with operator Thalys. The service is offered by NS HiSpeed, a subsidiary of High Speed Alliance, a joint company of NS and KLM, and the NMBS/SNCB. The name Fyra represents pride, and is derived from the Dutch and French words fier, both meaning proud. Fyra is also the Swedish word for four, and is said to represent the four important cities which the new trains will serve - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels.[2]
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[edit] Operations
The majority of NS Hispeed services will start at Amsterdam Centraal station. These will include two trains per hour to Rotterdam, two trains per hour to Breda and one train per hour to Antwerp and Brussels. All trains from Amsterdam will stop at both Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam. Services outside the Netherlands will be operated in conjunction with NMBS, Belgium's national railway operator. To compensate for the loss of direct service between The Hague and Brussels, and to connect Breda to destinations south of the border, a shuttle-service will connect The Hague with Brussels South via Rotterdam, Breda, Noorderkempen, Antwerp and Mechelen. This last service is questioned at the moment, due to a disagreement between NS HiSpeed and NMBS/SNCB on the purchase of a fifth EMU by NMBS/SNCB.
An hourly high-speed service between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam was introduced in September 2009. In October 2010 this was increased to a half-hourly service.[3] In April 2011 the service was extended to Breda. The service to Antwerp and Brussels is expected to start in mid 2012.
[edit] Rolling stock
NS Hispeed has ordered 16 V250 trains from AnsaldoBreda, with NMBS ordering a further 4 sets. The purchase of a 5th set is, as mentioned above, subject to a disagreement. They will be used on the Dutch domestic services and the NS Hispeed services to Brussels.[1] These sets will be eight carriages long and have a top speed of 250 km/h, and are expected to enter service no earlier than December 2012 - at least five years later than originally planned.[4]
Between 2007 and 2008 in order to dispense with the increasingly unreliable[5][not in citation given] SNCB Class 11 locomotives on the Amsterdam-Brussels services, NS Hispeed introduced twelve Bombardier Traxx F140 MS electric locomotives hired from Angel Trains, numbered in the range E186 111 to E186 122.[5]
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Built | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| F140 MS |  |
Electric locomotive | 100 | 160 | 12 | 2005–2007 | Interim usage until EMUs ready |
| V250 |  |
Electric multiple unit | 155 | 250 | 20 (planned) | 2009–2011 | Tricurrent |
[edit] Fares
All regular NS tickets are valid, but a supplement is required, depending on distance.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Fyra brand for Amsterdam – Brussels high speed". Railway Gazette International. 2009-07-07. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//fyra-brand-for-amsterdam-brussels-high-speed.html.
- ^ "Albatros to Fyra for Benelux high speed service". Todays Railways Europe: p. 6. September 2009.
- ^ "HSA strengthens Fyra shuttle service". Railway Gazette International. 2010-10-06. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/hsa-strengthens-fyra-shuttle-service.html.
- ^ "Fyra launch delayed again". Railway Gazette International. 2010-07-01. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/fyra-launch-delayed-again.html. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
- ^ a b "Angel Trains Cargo E186 series". Railcolor.net - Modern Locomotive Power. http://www.railcolor.net/index.php?nav=1405128&lang=1. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fyra |
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