NS VIRM

NS Class 8600/8700/9400/9500

Two coupled VIRM units at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA

Downstairs interior of a third-generation VIRM train.
In service 1994–present
Manufacturer Talbot, part of Bombardier Inc.
Number built 178 sets
Formation 6 cars (8600/8700)
4 cars (9400/9500)
Capacity 8600/8700 – 129 (1st), 442 (2nd)
9400/9500 – 61 (1st), 330 (2nd)
Operator(s) NS Reizigers
Specifications
Maximum speed

140 km/h (87 mph) (service)

200 km/h (120 mph) (design)
Power output 2,388 kW (3,202 hp) (8600/8700)
1,592 kW (2,135 hp) (9400/9500)
Electric system(s) 1.5 kV DC Catenary; all units have extra space for equipment to operate on 25 kV AC Catenary
Current collection method Pantograph
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

VIRM trains, full name Verlengd InterRegio Materieel (Lengthened interregional rolling stock), are a series of electric multiple unit (EMU) double-deck trains operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS (Dutch Railways), the principal railway operator in the Netherlands. NS has 178 of these double-deckers – 98 four-carriage sets, and 80 six-carriage sets. The trains were built between 1994 and 2009 – for the most part by Talbot, part of Bombardier Inc., with some railcars built by De Dietrich.

The VIRM trains evolved out of the previously existing DD-IRM series (DubbelDeks InterRegio Materieel or Double-deck interregional rolling stock). The first batch of 81 VIRM trains was created by lengthening all the existing DD-IRM combinations by one or two railcars. Three-unit trainsets were augmented by one carriage to transform them into a four-unit VIRM, and the four-unit sets received two more carriages, to create six-unit VIRM trains.

Names

First generation

The first generation of DD-IRM were delivered from 1994 to 1996 as three and four car units. The three car units were delivered in the 82xx class and the four car units delivered as 84xx. The first batch of 290 double deck coaches (individual) were delivered. The first 47 were built by De Dietrich and from then on by Talbot.

As the coaches were individual but would run as a unit, they are individually numbered. Collectively they have a set number e.g., 8201, having coach number 380 8001. However, there are no double numbers, for example there can not be an 8201 and 8401 at the same time.

In 2000 an order was placed for new coaches. The 3 car sets were to be upgraded to 4 car sets, and the four car sets upgraded to 6 car sets. This is why they are now called VIRM (V = verlengd – extended). These were renumbered into the 94xx series and the 86xx series. These sets were formed between 2001 and 2005.

Second generation

Complete view of four carriage unit.

The second generation of VIRM were new sets built to the 4 and 6 coach formations, at the same time as the first generation were rebuilt. These were numbered 95xx (4 car units) and 87xx (6 car units). These sets featured different seats, which were also in the new coaches placed inside the first generation sets.

Third generation

These sets were delivered from June 2008 and these are all 4 car units. They are numbered 9547–9597. These sets differ in that they do not feature the catering lift, meaning the stairs could be wider and the destination screens inside the coaches have disappeared, where instead information screens with travel information have been fitted.

Refurbishment

Refurbished 8637 at Bergen op Zoom

Starting in 2015, the VIRM-1 sets are currently being refurbished and fitted with new interiors similar to those seen in the DDZ trainsets, and with new-style liveries. These sets are officially referred to as VIRMm.

Numbering

vehicle type DD-IRM
1994–96		 VIRM-1
2002–		 VIRM-2
2002–		 VIRM-3
–2005		 VIRM-4
2008–09
Short Trainsets
Long Trainsets		 8201...8281 (34)
8401...8481 (47)		 9401...9481 (34)
8601...8681 (47)		 9502...9525 (13)
8701...8723 (12)		 -
8726–8746 (21)		 9547–9597 (51)
-
mBvk1/2 290 8501–8662 (162) 8663–8712 (50) 8713–8754 (42) 8759–8861 (103)
ABv3/4 380 8001–8081 (81) 8101–8125 (25) 8126–8146 (21) 8147–8197 (51)
ABv5 380 8201–8247 (47) 8248–8259 (12) 8260–8280 (21)
ABv6 380 8301–8381 (81) 8382–8406 (25) 8407–8427 (21) 8428–8478 (51)
mBv7 260 8801–8847 (47) 8848–8859 (12) 8860–8880 (21)

Different liveries

9524 in OV chipkaart livery.

Services operated

The VIRM is now the main intercity train and can be seen across most of the NS network.

Series Train type Route Material Notes
500 Intercity Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Alexander – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal – Amersfoort – Zwolle – Assen – Groningen VIRM / ICM
700 Intercity Den Haag Centraal – Leiden Centraal – Schiphol – Amsterdam Zuid – Almere Centrum – Lelystad Centrum – Zwolle – Assen – Groningen VIRM In the evening and in the morning (in weekends) often combined with series 2600 (Lelystad Centrum – Flushing), carrying series 12600. Instead of halting at Amsterdam Zuid, it continues to Amsterdam Central station, Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Lelylaan, before continuing to Schiphol and following the original route. At Den Haag, it changes route to Den Haag Hollands spoor, continuing to Flushing via Schiedam, Delft, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Roosendaal.
800 Intercity Schagen – Heerhugowaard – Alkmaar Noord – Alkmaar – Heiloo – Castricum – Zaandam – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Amstel – Utrecht Centraal – 's-Hertogenbosch – Eindhoven – Weert – Roermond – Sittard – Maastricht VIRM Schagen – Alkmaar only during peak hours

Evenings and Sundays only Amsterdam Centraal – Maastricht

1400 Nachtnet Eindhoven – Tilburg – Breda – Dordrecht – Rotterdam Centraal – Delft – Den Haag HS – Leiden Centraal – Schiphol – Amsterdam Centraal – Utrecht Centraal – 's-Hertogenbosch – Eindhoven VIRM / ICM Eindhoven – Rotterdam Centraal / Utrecht Centraal only Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights
1500 Intercity Enkhuizen – Bovenkarspel Flora – Bovenkarspel-Grootebroek – Hoogkarspel – Hoorn Kersenboogerd – Hoorn – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal – Hilversum – Amersfoort VIRM / ICM
1700 Intercity Den Haag Centraal – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal – Amersfoort – Apeldoorn – Deventer – Almelo – Hengelo – Enschede VIRM Joined at Utrecht Centraal or Gouda (weekends only) with the 2800 series from Rotterdam Centraal. The combined train is split in Deventer. The train from Den Haag Centraal continues to Enschede, the train from Rotterdam Centraal ends in Deventer, except for some random trains.
2000 Intercity Den Haag Centraal – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal VIRM / DDZ
2100 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Haarlem – Heemstede-Aerdenhout – Leiden Centraal – Den Haag Centraal VIRM
2200 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Haarlem – Heemstede-Aerdenhout – Leiden Centraal – Den Haag Laan van NOI – Den Haag HS – Delft – Schiedam Centrum – Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Blaak – Dordrecht VIRM
2600 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Lelylaan – Schiphol – Leiden Centraal – Den Haag Laan van NOI – Den Haag HS – Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Blaak – Dordrecht – Roosendaal – Bergen op Zoom – Rilland-Bath – Krabbendijke – Kruiningen-Yerseke – Kapelle-Biezelinge – Goes – Arnemuiden – Middelburg – Vlissingen Souburg – Vlissingen VIRM
2800 Intercity Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Alexander – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal – Amersfoort – Apeldoorn – Deventer VIRM Joined at Utrecht Centraal or Gouda (weekends only) with the 1700 series from Den Haag Centraal. The combined train is split in Deventer. The train from Den Haag Centraal continues to Enschede, the train from Rotterdam Centraal ends in Deventer, except for some random trains. This series is called 12800 in the weekends.
3000 Intercity Den Helder – Den Helder Zuid – Anna Paulowna – Schagen – Heerhugowaard – Alkmaar Noord – Alkmaar – Castricum – Zaandam – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Amstel – Utrecht Centraal – Veenendaal-De Klomp – Ede-Wageningen – Arnhem Centraal – Nijmegen VIRM Stops at Driebergen-Zeist after 9pm and on Sundays mornings (until 11 am)
3100 Intercity Schiphol – Amsterdam Zuid – Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA – Utrecht Centraal – Driebergen-Zeist – Ede-Wageningen – Arnhem Centraal – Nijmegen VIRM Not in the evening hours and Sunday mornings (until 11 am)
3400 Intercity Alkmaar – Beverwijk – Haarlem VIRM Only during peak hours
8800 Intercity Leiden Centraal – Leiden Lammenschans – Alphen a/d Rijn – Bodegraven – Woerden – Utrecht Centraal railway station VIRM / DDZ
12500 Intercity Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Alexander – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal – Amersfoort – Zwolle – Steenwijk – Heerenveen – Leeuwarden VIRM / ICM
12700 Intercity Den Haag Centraal – Leiden Centraal – Schiphol – Amsterdam Zuid – Almere Centrum – Lelystad Centrum – Zwolle – Meppel – Steenwijk – Wolvega – Heerenveen – Akkrum – Grou-Jirnsum – Leeuwarden VIRM
21400 Nachtnet Eindhoven – 's-Hertogenbosch – Utrecht Centraal; Rotterdam Centraal – Dordrecht – Breda – Tilburg – Eindhoven VIRM / SGMm Only during nights following Friday and Saturday

Green Train

In 2015, NS hopes to let 50% of their trains run on electricity powered by windmills. By 2018, all the trains should be running on "clean" electricity.[2] To celebrate this and the fact that the first Dutch railway line was opened 175 years ago, NS and Eneco Energy held a competition. Designers had to design a green train.

The winners were two students from the Technical University in Delft. Their names are Michiel van Sinderen and Steffen de Jonge. Their design was to have the train be checkered with small black and blue squares. From even a small distance the train appears to be green. Michiel van Sinderen said it was the most beautiful thing he had ever made.[3] This design was brought on VIRM number 9556. It was named De Groene Trein which means The Green Train. The difference between this train and other VIRMs is the paler shade of yellow and white arrows on the doors, similar to those on DDZ trains and modernized ICRm railway cars.

The train debuted on September 20, 2014. Its maiden voyage was an extra trip from Amsterdam Centraal to Haarlem. Now it can be spotted and ridden anywhere in the Netherlands.

Accidents and incidents

Collision involving a NS VIRM unit (right)

References

  1. ↑ "Picture Gallery – Directory: /pix/nl/electric/emu/IRM". railfaneurope.net. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Welkom op de website van NS – NS". ns.nl. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Double You Media (19 September 2014). "NS Groene trein preview". Retrieved 23 September 2016 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Pieters, Janine (28 April 2017). "DUTCH TRAIN DERAILS NEAR BELGIUM BORDER, INJURING ENGINEER". NL Times. Retrieved 30 April 2017. In July 2017 a VIRM collided with a lorry in Heiloo Forrest.
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