NS Intercity Nieuwe Generatie

Class of electric multiple units for Nederlandse Spoorwegen
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Intercity Nieuwe Generatie (transl. Intercity New Generation), or ICNG is an electric multiple unit trainset of the Dutch Railways. In addition to supplementing the existing intercity rolling stock, it will replace the Bombardier TRAXX locomotives and Intercityrijtuig [nl] coaches on the high-speed line between Amsterdam and Belgium. This will provide the connection that was originally planned to be provided by the Fyra service, which was cancelled in 2013.

The process to acquire the trains began in 2014, eventually resulting in trains built by Alstom Konstal in Poland based on their Coradia Stream platform. The trains arrived in the Netherlands starting in 2020, and after a period of testing, entered passenger service in April 2023.

History

The NS began procurement of a new intercity trainset in July 2014. At that time, it aimed to receive the trains in 2021 and to start deployment in 2022.[1] The respondents were Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier and Stadler.[2] In May 2016 NS announced that Alstom had won a contract for around 80 trainsets. At the end of May, the contract was finalized to include a total of 79 trainsets, including 49 5-car units and 30 8-car units.[3]

Since the cancellation of the Fyra service, NS had been operating the Intercity Direct service using TRAXX locomotives and existing Intercityrijtuig coaches dating back to the 1980s. To replace these, the order with Alstom was expanded with trains capable of running on both Belgian and Dutch track. In 2017, the order was expanded with two 8-car trains, which was later expanded to a total of 20 trains.[4][5]

The first train arrived in the Netherlands on 23 May 2020 to begin testing on the Dutch railway network.[6] Permission to operate on the Dutch network was granted at the end of 2022.[7]

In April 2023, the NS began phasing the ICNG into operation.[8] The train is initially running on the high-speed line between Schiphol and Breda at 200 km/h (125 mph), a significant improvement over the existing equipment, which can only operate up to 160 km/h (100 mph). NS plans to introduce the ICNG between The Hague - Eindhoven, Amsterdam - Groningen, Amsterdam - Leeuwarden and Amsterdam - Enschede.[9]

Incidents

  • On 16 October 2020, two ICNG units were being towed when the train derailed at Dreileben, Germany. The driver of the locomotive hauling the train was injured.[10] The two units were being towed by a diesel locomotive from the Alstom factory at Salzgitter routed via Magdeburg for 25 kV AC railway electrification testing at Blankenburg (Harz) station on the Rübeland Railway. During 18 October 2020 rail cranes were used to place the derailed unit 3105 back on the rails, with 3109 having survived without derailment. The diesel locomotive 214 006 remained in the field.[11]

Description

The train type is divided into three classes: 3100, 3200 and 3300. The classes differ by their length and electric systems, with the 3300 class trains able to operate on the NMBS/SNCB Belgian railway network.

Class Length Electric Systems Number ordered
3100 5 coaches 1.5 kV DC
25 kV AC 		49
3200 8 coaches 30
3300 1.5 kV DC
3 kV DC
25 kV AC 		20

3300 Series for Belgium

The 3300 series ICNG train has eight carriages, containing a total of 410 seats. This version has an extra toilet and more luggage space. It is able to use the Belgian rail protection system and 3kV overhead lines.[8]

NS placed an additional order early on for two Coradia suitable for the Belgian rail network (ICNGB),[12] because the train stock in use for the Amsterdam – Brussels connection is due for replacement in 2025. With that order, the intention was to test these two trainsets and to obtain approval for the Belgian rail network, after which a follow-up order could be placed. This covered the risk that the admission would expire. However, the first follow-up order for eighteen trains has already been placed, well before the first trains have entered service, so that from 2025, 20 units will be available for service to Belgium.[13]

Interior

The trains are equipped with a universal (wheelchair accessible) toilet and a special wheelchair space for two wheelchairs. The five-car train set is also equipped with one universal toilet, the eight-car train set with two standard toilets. The trains are also equipped with first and second class sections, which are divided into sections for "work", "silence" and "meet & greet". Extra luggage racks have been installed on the Belgian 33xx version for their international journeys. There are sockets and USB connections for charging a telephone or laptop in both the first and second class the usual NS onboard information screens and free WiFi are available on the trains.[4]

References

  1. ^ "NS start aanbesteding nieuwe Intercity's" [NS starts tendering for new intercities]. OVMagazine.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Vier partijen in race voor nieuwe Intercity" [Four parties in race for new Intercity]. OVMagazine.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Alstom gaat 79 intercitytreinen voor NS maken" [Alstom to build 79 new intercity trains for NS]. Treinreiziger.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "NS en Alstom sluiten contract over levering van 79 snelle Intercity's" [NS and Alstom agree contract to deliver 79 fast Intercities]. NS.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. ^ "NS bestelt 18 extra ICNG treinen voor IC Brussel" [NS orders 18 extra ICNG trains for IC Brussel]. treinreiziger.nl (in Dutch). 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Eerste ICNG is in Nederland aangekomen" [The first ICNG has arrived in the Netherlands]. treinenweb.nl (in Dutch). 23 May 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  7. ^ Vosman, Quintus (5 January 2023). "NS ICNG fleet approved to enter service". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. ^ a b Vosman, Quintus (2023-04-20). "ICNG enters passenger service". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  9. ^ treinreiziger.nl (2023-04-19). "Nieuwe Intercity (ICNG) vervoert voor het eerst treinreizigers". Treinreiziger.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  10. ^ "Bei Dreileben (Landkreis Börde) ist am Freitag ein Zug entgleist" [At Dreileben (Börde District) a train derailed on Friday] (in German). Volksstimme. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. ^ Lawrenz, D.; Thürmer, F. (2020-10-18). "Zugentgleisung auf der Strecke Braunschweig – Magdeburg" [Train derailment on the Braunschweig - Magdeburg line]. Eisenbahn Kurier (in German). Die werkseigene 214 006 (92 80 1214 006-9 D-ALS) war mit den beiden Neubau-Triebzügen 3105 und 3109 vom Typ IC NG (InterCity New Generation) für die Niederländischen Eisenbahnen AG (NS) von Salzgitter nach Blankenburg (Harz) unterwegs.
  12. ^ "Kamerbrief Investering ICNG België" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  13. ^ "Eerste ICNG naar België voor test en toelating". Treinenweb (in Dutch). 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  • v
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Current train types in the Netherlands
Diesel multiple units (DMU)
Local
Electric multiple units (EMU)
Local
Intercity
High-Speed
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Coradia 1000 family
Coradia Juniper family
Coradia LINT low-floor family
Coradia Nordic family
Coradia Duplex family
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  • ICNG
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Other

External links

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