NS koploper units into 2023

[slammerTel]

Hi Guys

I'm planning to visit the NS rail network in March 2023. Was hoping to have had this trip done but a certain virus put paid to that plan I'm specifically going to see, photo & ride the Koploper units before they become just a distant memory. Will there still be plenty of ICMm action in March or will the new ICNG trains be taking over big time.

Any news would be very much appreciated

 

[rvdborgt]

Sure, they'll still be in service for some years to come.

 

[Bemined]

ICNG will be entering service on the HSL first, replacing the the TRAXX+ICR trainsets there. It will take some time before they will be entering service on the regular intercity lines. Integration of the HSL and regular intercity services north of Schiphol has been postponed twice already and will probably not happen before 2025.

 

[slammerTel]

Sure, they'll still be in service for some years to come.

cheers rvdborgt. Thats good to know

ICNG will be entering service on the HSL first, replacing the the TRAXX+ICR trainsets there. It will take some time before they will be entering service on the regular intercity lines. Integration of the HSL and regular intercity services north of Schiphol has been postponed twice already and will probably not happen before 2025.

lol Bemined...... sounds just like over here on the South Western trains out of London Waterloo. Lots of new build "Arterio" sets already built but hardly any out in passenger service !!.

 

[DanielB]

Should you not already know: main routes where ICM runs are Rotterdam Central - Groningen / Leeuwarden (via Amersfoort), The Hague Central - Enschede / Amersfoort Schothorst, Schiphol Airport - Enschede / Amersfoort Schothorst, The Hague Central - Groningen / Leeuwarden (via Almere) and Amsterdam Central - Amersfoort Central.
The first four routes currently have a mixed operation of ICM and DDZ, haven't read anything about changes to that in the 2023 timetable. The Hague Central - Utrecht Central is usually ICM as well, but that's one of the services being limited due to staff shortages in 2023 and will only run from Monday till Thursday at peak hours.

The Hague Central - Groningen / Leeuwarden via Almere is currently split in two parts, but should be reinstated mid December when repairs of the fried electronics at the Hanzelijn (due to the incident with fallen electrical cables earlier this year) are completed.

 

[slammerTel]

Cheers DanielB. That gives me a good idea of where they operate .... and a good start at riding these superb units. I guess planning to lodge in Leeuwarden was a good idea too

 

[Bemined]

A couple of changes to what services are operated by ICM are expected but I don't know what will exactly change. With the service being reduced between Utrecht and Amersfoort I expect the remaining services will be extended, this could mean longer ICM trains (they can run with up to 4 trainsets coupled, which became a rarity during Corona but recently made its comeback) but they might also swap them for double decker trains. So you should probably check again in February to be sure.

 

[slammerTel]

Many thanks Bemined. I will check back prior to heading over nearer the time. Hopefully unit numbers in service will still be high then

 

[rvdborgt]

(they can run with up to 4 trainsets coupled, which became a rarity during Corona but recently made its comeback)

AFAIK the maximum is 5 trainsets (5 x 3) coupled but that only happened between Zwolle and Utrecht.

 

[Bemined]

That used to be the maximum length up to 10 years ago indeed, these days they run with at most 4 trainsets because the new platforms at Zwolle and Utrecht are shorter.

 

[DanielB]

I'm not aware of the platforms 8-12 at Utrecht Central having been shortened when the station was rebuilt (which happened after 2012 anyway). At Zwolle they definitely became shorter, but that happened relatively recent when the track layout was changed.

The most obvious reason for shorter trains 10 years ago was of course the opening of the Hanzelijn and the timetable changes as a result thereof. Those 15 car sets where only needed as the ICs from Rotterdam and The Hague where combined with eachother before 2012, and had to run with 7-8 cars in the rush hour.

Wasn't Rotterdam Alexander the limitation since the train towards Zwolle is coming completely from Rotterdam?

 

[Bemined]

Actually they only combined off-peak, during the peak they ran as separate services. Only in the final months of 2012 they ran combined during the peak as well because reconstruction of Utrecht had started and they couldn't run these separate services anymore.

They indeed did not fit at Rotterdam Alexander but also not at Gouda and also not north of Zwolle. And Utrecht has indeed been shortened like Zwolle, and Apeldoorn (they also ran between Utrecht - Deventer) is due to be shortened next year so it is unlikely they will ever run 5 trainssets again in regular passenger service.

 

[DanielB]

Actually they only combined off-peak, during the peak they ran as separate services. Only in the final months of 2012 they ran combined during the peak as well because reconstruction of Utrecht had started and they couldn't run these separate services anymore.

I know the details, used to commute between Amersfoort and Utrecht for 7 years during the rebuild of Utrecht Central. But actually only in the peak direction between Utrecht and Zwolle all trains were doubled, in the other direction there where a few doublers missing and those trains did combine and split up in Utrecht and Zwolle.
The early hours of the morning peak also had some trains that did combine in Zwolle, but not split up in Utrecht as an additional train ran between Amersfoort and Rotterdam.

But those times are long gone so not really relevant for TS anymore. Or they are... as those busy trains are more likely to run double deck instead of ICM now.
The Hanzelijn however has been a huge relief for Utrecht - Zwolle anyway, providing a second route to the north. There used to be one train running with a 14 car VIRM set at Utrecht - Zwolle as well and I've been standing on it several times as even such a huge train was completely full. Just to illustrate how busy it could be there. But nowadays 12 car trains are usually enough.

 

[Bemined]

There have been a few changes in the new timetable, ICM is now also on the Roosendaal - Zwolle route in addition to the old routes. On almost all routes ICM is mixed with DDZ, based on the first two weeks in the following ratio:
Rotterdam - Groningen / Leeuwarden (via Utrecht): 83% ICM, 17% DDZ
The Hague - Groningen / Leeuwarden (via Schiphol): 62% ICM, 38% DDZ
The Hague - Amersfoort / Enschede (via Utrecht): 62% ICM, 38% DDZ
Schiphol - Amersfoort / Enschede: 50% ICM, 50% DDZ
Amsterdam - Amersfoort / Deventer: 100% ICM
Rotterdam / The Hague - Utrecht: 71% ICM, 29% VIRM
Amsterdam - Almere: 100% ICM
Roosendaal - Zwolle: 33% ICM, 67% DDZ

There are a couple of trains per week that run with 4 3-car units coupled together, but only like 1 or 2 per day and it differs per day of the week. They also tend to get shortened at the last minute because a up a 3-car unit got mixed up with a 4-car unit and it wouldn't fit the platforms anymore with the extra car, so they just leave the 4th unit behind.

 

[slammerTel]

Cheers for the update Bemined. All this "gen" is helping me to build up a cracking few days in the Netherlands enjoying all those ICMm units. Don't get me wrong, I know there are lots of other decent EMU's to sample but there just seems to be something rather unique and delightful about those "Koplopers". I really don't know what it is..... but I intend to sample as many as I can in 2 weeks time 

Yet another question... I will stop eventually  am I right in saying that the ICMm's are the only units on NS that have power sockets and they are located below the luggage racks ??. Ive looked on various sites and couldn't find any info with regards to power points on the DDZ or VIRM so I'll presume that they don't have them.

Yet another question... I will stop eventually  am I right in saying that the ICMm's are the only units on NS that have power sockets and they are located below the luggage racks ??. Ive looked on various sites and couldn't find any info with regards to power points on the DDZ or VIRM so I'll presume that they don't have them.

 

[biko]

am I right in saying that the ICMm's are the only units on NS that have power sockets and they are located below the luggage racks ??. Ive looked on various sites and couldn't find any info with regards to power points on the DDZ or VIRM so I'll presume that they don't have them.

No, they are not the only ones. ICMm has power sockets only in first class situated under the luggage rack (1 per 2 seats). In my opinion one of the biggest problems with ICMm. DDZ does have power sockets under the seats in first class. Some VIRM can have power sockets but it depends on the batch of sets and on whether a set has been renovated.

The newest Sprinter classes have sockets in both first and second class, but not sure whether you're interested in those.

 

[DanielB]

am I right in saying that the ICMm's are the only units on NS that have power sockets and they are located below the luggage racks ??.

ICMm is not unique in the power sockets located below the luggage racks, they're actually in the same place in ICRmh first class cars (albeit the number of sockets is lower there).
There is an exception however: the four car ICMm sets have power sockets below the seats in the six seater compartments. In the three car units there's no power socket in these compartments.

DDZ as mentioned has them under the seats in first class.

Regarding VIRM:
- VIRM-4 (numbers 9547 - 9597) are the only non-refurbished sets having sockets under the seats in first class.
- VIRMm-1 (recognisable by the blue stripe which bends downwards [photo]) has power sockets in first class under the seats
- VIRMm-2/3 (recognisable by the new flow livery) has power sockets in first class under the seats and USB-sockets in second class)

 

[Bikeman78]

Hi Guys

I'm planning to visit the NS rail network in March 2023. Was hoping to have had this trip done but a certain virus put paid to that plan I'm specifically going to see, photo & ride the Koploper units before they become just a distant memory. Will there still be plenty of ICMm action in March or will the new ICNG trains be taking over big time.

Any news would be very much appreciated

In addition to all the routes listed by other people, I thought they did Leiden to Utrecht as well. However, all those trains are SLT Sprinters now. Yuck! Too many Koplopers gone for scrap I guess.

The website below is very useful. Click "vertrektijden" next to the station you want and you get a list of departures and units allocated. You can look at history too. Click "Alle vertrektijden" for the whole day, or select past dates from the dropdown menu.

If you want unit diagrams, click "Treininfo" and then "Ompolen." There is loads of other info on the site. You can track down specific units in the "Materieel" menu.

Treinposities per station

treinposities.nl

 

[DanielB]

In addition to all the routes listed by other people, I thought they did Leiden to Utrecht as well. However, all those trains are SLT Sprinters now. Yuck! Too many Koplopers gone for scrap I guess.

Nope, has nothing to do with scrapped Koplopers. Leiden - Utrecht was upgraded to a train every 15 minutes in a recent timetable (currently not due to staff shortage).
This upgrade required rolling stock with a lower weight as especially the part of the line between Woerden and Leiden runs through terrain practically being a swamp, so too many heavy trains would result in damage to the line.

 

[Bemined]

The 15 minute service still runs, just not during the holiday as it's peak only. They did shorten it to Utrecht though because of staff shortage, it used to continue to Houten. But indeed no more ICM on that line for this reason.

 

[rvdborgt]

This upgrade required rolling stock with a lower weight as especially the part of the line between Woerden and Leiden runs through terrain practically being a swamp, so too many heavy trains would result in damage to the line.

I usually call that "thick water"...

 

[Bikeman78]

Nope, has nothing to do with scrapped Koplopers. Leiden - Utrecht was upgraded to a train every 15 minutes in a recent timetable (currently not due to staff shortage).
This upgrade required rolling stock with a lower weight as especially the part of the line between Woerden and Leiden runs through terrain practically being a swamp, so too many heavy trains would result in damage to the line.

Oh, fair enough. I'm glad I rode on a Koploper when I had the chance. In the 1990s, I think it ran every 15 minutes at peak times with Mat '64. They used the loops at Bodegraven and between Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn. It was quite difficult to keep time. Off peak the trains only passed at Alphen and Woerden. They had 32/33 minutes at Leiden.

 

[DanielB]

Correct, there has been a 15-minute interval at peak hours on this route in the past. And with 15 minutes of journey time between Alphen and Leiden this would have be very tight indeed.
The 15-minute interval ceased to exist in the summer of 2006 as a speed limit following a derailment lead to significant punctuality issues.

Then in 2007 NS reverted to a two train system naming everything not stopping at every station Intercity. Including Utrecht - Leiden services as they skipped Vleuten and Utrecht Terwijde.
That was also the moment IC-stock was introduced there, but ICMm has actually only ran on that route between 2017 and 2021 (as well as part of the trains around 2013)