MisterT
Member
Yesterday, NS held a press event where they unveiled the newly refurbished VIRM inter-regional/intercity trains of the second and third generation (VIRM 2/3). While that isn't really interesting in itself - as the first generation VIRM units have already been refurbished in almost the same way, these trains are the first multiple units to carry the new NS livery:
Picture: NS
This livery will be applied to all new trains*, including the local Sprinter trains, which is a change in itself. Previously, NS applied the classic yellow and blue livery on the Intercity trains and a different white/yellow/blue livery on the sprinter trains to distinguish the local sprinter trains from the intercity services, but with other operators having the same white base livery, NS tries to establish their brand a bit more strongly towards the customers.
The VIRM trains will have a completely new interior with dynamic lighting, which is automatically adjusted to the time of the day and the amount of sunlight outside (so the lights will be brighter in the evening and in tunnels, and more dim or even almost off on a bright sunny day).
Unfortunately, NS themselves haven't published good pictures from the new interior, so I'd like to refer those who are interested in that to the links down below, but here is a little teaser from the 2nd class, upper deck interior:
And (finally!) the newly added plug sockets and USB ports in the 1st class:
The second class is only equipped with USB ports for charging.
For those interested in the refurbishment process from the VIRM trains, NS has posted a time-lapse video:
The official news item can be found here: NS unveils refurbished double deck trains in a new livery
More pictures from the interior as well can be found at various news sources, like the Dutch site 'Treinreiziger'. They published a news article (Treinreiziger.nl article about the refurbished trains) and a review in pictures: In pictures: The refurbished double deck trains
Some random facts about the trains: each carriage has more than 20 km of wiring; the trains finally have USB ports for charging (2nd class) and plug sockets + USB ports (1st class); The trains have a completely new HVAC system, which should improve the climate inside; every three weeks a complete refurbished train is delivered, but the process itself takes longer than that, as multiple units are in the process of being refurbished at the same time; the trains now have front facing camera's that can be used when accidents happen; the first newly refurbished trains will be in service from next week in the Intercity service between Amsterdam and The Hague, and is currently being tested for delivery:
* Excluding the Intercity New Generation trains coming into service next year. Those will still have the old Intercity livery.
Picture: NS
This livery will be applied to all new trains*, including the local Sprinter trains, which is a change in itself. Previously, NS applied the classic yellow and blue livery on the Intercity trains and a different white/yellow/blue livery on the sprinter trains to distinguish the local sprinter trains from the intercity services, but with other operators having the same white base livery, NS tries to establish their brand a bit more strongly towards the customers.
The VIRM trains will have a completely new interior with dynamic lighting, which is automatically adjusted to the time of the day and the amount of sunlight outside (so the lights will be brighter in the evening and in tunnels, and more dim or even almost off on a bright sunny day).
Unfortunately, NS themselves haven't published good pictures from the new interior, so I'd like to refer those who are interested in that to the links down below, but here is a little teaser from the 2nd class, upper deck interior:
And (finally!) the newly added plug sockets and USB ports in the 1st class:
The second class is only equipped with USB ports for charging.
For those interested in the refurbishment process from the VIRM trains, NS has posted a time-lapse video:
The official news item can be found here: NS unveils refurbished double deck trains in a new livery
More pictures from the interior as well can be found at various news sources, like the Dutch site 'Treinreiziger'. They published a news article (Treinreiziger.nl article about the refurbished trains) and a review in pictures: In pictures: The refurbished double deck trains
Some random facts about the trains: each carriage has more than 20 km of wiring; the trains finally have USB ports for charging (2nd class) and plug sockets + USB ports (1st class); The trains have a completely new HVAC system, which should improve the climate inside; every three weeks a complete refurbished train is delivered, but the process itself takes longer than that, as multiple units are in the process of being refurbished at the same time; the trains now have front facing camera's that can be used when accidents happen; the first newly refurbished trains will be in service from next week in the Intercity service between Amsterdam and The Hague, and is currently being tested for delivery:
* Excluding the Intercity New Generation trains coming into service next year. Those will still have the old Intercity livery.