DutchNews.nl - Two intercity trains a day to replace Fyra high-speed link to Brussels

Home

Opinion

Services

New to Amsterdam and in need of a helping hand? Expats in Amsterdam
Rent an open boat in Amsterdam with Sloep Huren Amsterdam
Delicious food provided by Catering Amsterdam
Make the most of your teeth with Dentist Amsterdam
Check out Expats in Rotterdam for jobs, housing and social clubs
Apartment Amsterdam provides fully serviced apartments in city centre
Looking for apartments for rent? Search our huge offer of rental apartments for expats
Get away from it all by renting a classic boat through Boot Huren Amsterdam
Visit Expats in Utrecht for advice and information for internationals

««« previous

Two intercity trains a day to replace Fyra high-speed link to Brussels

Sunday 03 February 2013

Two direct train services a day between The Hague and Brussels will partly replace the suspended Fyra high-speed services, junior transport minister Wilma Mansveld has announced.

The service will start on February 18 and means there is no direct link between Amsterdam and the Belgian capital, apart from the Thalys high-speed service. Thalys is owned by the Belgian, French and German railways.

The Dutch railway network is too congested to allow intercity trains from Amsterdam to Belgium, Mansveld said. Instead, travellers should either use Thalys or take the Fyra service to Rotterdam (which uses a different sort of train) and then pick up an intercity service.

Damage

The Belgian and Dutch railways which operate the Fyra service say they hope to have solved the safety problems within three months.

Fyra services were suspended after three trains were damaged by snow and ice during the cold snap. The new service started in December, replacing slower intercity trains, and was beset by delays and breakdowns since then.

The new The Hague to Brussels intercity service will be stepped up to eight trains a day from March 11.

Subscribe Newsletter | Print-version | News archives | Comments policy

Readers' Comments

Hurrah, the intercity is back!! Let's hope they're smart, and permanently ditch Failra.

By Sedirea | 3 February 2013 1:57 PM

8 trains per day = 4 in each direction? I hate the drive but it's easily the best option.

By Puck | 4 February 2013 8:56 AM

Great, the intercity is back but they can't manage to connect it to Amsterdam. Such incompetence is mind blowing.

By phantom | 4 February 2013 9:33 AM

Oh, wait, I didn't read this properly: 2 intercitys A DAY?! Ahahahahaham sorry, I didn't get it the first time, this is a joke! And a good one at that!

By phantom | 4 February 2013 9:34 AM

@phantom: there are no more space on the train line between Den Haag N.O.I and Hoofddorp for more trains.

Passengers to/from Amsterdam should take the domestic Fyra (which hasn't been affected by any problems) and change in Rotterdam.

By A.L. | 4 February 2013 9:54 PM