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Belgian loco hauled on the HSL

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citycat

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Sorry for another question in the space of a few days.

Just seen a SNCB loco hauled train (i11?) on the HSL Zuid between Rotterdam and Breda. Is this a new service or is it more testing going on for something?

I haven’t kept up with changes. If it’s a new service, does it run in addition to the ICNG trains?
 
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Sorry for another question in the space of a few days.

Just seen a SNCB loco hauled train (i11?) on the HSL Zuid between Rotterdam and Breda. Is this a new service or is it more testing going on for something.

I haven’t kept up with changes. If it’s a new service, does it run in addition to the ICNG trains?
New service, in addition to the ICNG dross.

Formed of Belgian I11 stock and currently powered by leased TRAXX MS2 locos, pending delivery of SNCB’s own TRAXX MS3 fleet.
 

citycat

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New service, in addition to the ICNG dross.

Formed of Belgian I11 stock and currently powered by leased TRAXX MS2 locos, pending delivery of SNCB’s own TRAXX MS3 fleet.

Aah, ok. Between Amsterdam and Brussels? I guess the fares are no cheaper than NS?

Thanks for the info.
 

dutchflyer

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AMs ZUIDWTC = SOuth, NO CS-to the detriment of so many who still believe that would be the place to go to (having worked the biggest part of my working life for that city-I would not do that anymore). The sector Schiphol Airpt-AMS CS now only sees very frequent ´airport shuttles/sprinters, with all stops.
Note that the old-style BeNeLux is now limited to ROTterdam-Brussel. But the ´hispeed´ sector RTM-S´hol is since many monthes partly under repair, has speed-restrictions and this is to continue for some more time to come too.
It IS also a NS-INTERNAT train on the NL-part, till border, where NMBS takes over, its a common ´enterprise´, And yes, there are different fares and several local fare-offers are not accepted-so in effect its seen as a ´premium´ service for ´premium´ fares=higher (not that much though and there are also cheaper advance offers). Others will probably have more finer details and corrections to this. So its not at all what you seem to suspect: some new competitor offering budget prices for a competing service. In fact to relieve overcrowding extra service was really needed at peak times.
For really cheap fares between those places; FLIXbus, also often nearly as fast.
 

citycat

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AMs ZUIDWTC = SOuth, NO CS-to the detriment of so many who still believe that would be the place to go to (having worked the biggest part of my working life for that city-I would not do that anymore). The sector Schiphol Airpt-AMS CS now only sees very frequent ´airport shuttles/sprinters, with all stops.
Note that the old-style BeNeLux is now limited to ROTterdam-Brussel. But the ´hispeed´ sector RTM-S´hol is since many monthes partly under repair, has speed-restrictions and this is to continue for some more time to come too.
It IS also a NS-INTERNAT train on the NL-part, till border, where NMBS takes over, its a common ´enterprise´, And yes, there are different fares and several local fare-offers are not accepted-so in effect its seen as a ´premium´ service for ´premium´ fares=higher (not that much though and there are also cheaper advance offers). Others will probably have more finer details and corrections to this. So its not at all what you seem to suspect: some new competitor offering budget prices for a competing service. In fact to relieve overcrowding extra service was really needed at peak times.
For really cheap fares between those places; FLIXbus, also often nearly as fast.
Yes, book a few days in advance and Flixbus is a bargain €5.99 all day from Rotterdam to Brussels.
 

rvdborgt

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Aah, ok. Between Amsterdam and Brussels? I guess the fares are no cheaper than NS?
Rotterdam-Brussels. It's still a classical cooperation train of NS and NMBS. Fares are cheaper than last year because NMBS removed the "border supplement" on their part. Buy tickets via NS or NMBS; you can force this train on the latter by adding via Noorderkempen (or Breda).
 

Beebman

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Twyford
Simply Railway has posted a trip report video of the service between Rotterdam and Brussels travelling on the HSL:


Since December 2024, SNCB and NS have introduced two new service for its cross border operations, the EuroCity Direct linking Lelystad and Brussels via Amsterdam with a few stops in between and the EuroCity linking Rotterdam and Brussels stopping at all stations in between. Let's see if these new services are worth it and worth the replacement over the old Intercity Direct service
 
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