"IC Brussel" trains between Brussels and Amsterdam - Interrail reservations

[ABB125]

There is slightly conflicting advice as to whether a reservation is needed to travel on the "IC Brussel" services between Brussels and Amsterdam. Could someone please clarify the situation for me?
I will need to go between Brussels and Amsterdam on Monday 4th April, in time to catch the NightJet service to Innsbruck* (so I'm thinking of getting the 1445 from Brussels, arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 1735, with the NightJet leaving at 1900). I think I need to pay a 2.70eur reservation fee (because the train travels over the high speed line between Rotterdam and Schipol Airport). Is this correct?

Related to this, are there any recommendations as to how to maximise the number of locomotives I get for haulage? The "IC Brussel" train will (I believe) have a class 186 on either end. I could take the 1451 from Brussels instead as far as Antwerp, which I think should be one or two class 18s, then change onto the "IC Brussel" service (which the 1451 overtakes because it goes via the airport). I could then also change at Breda and Rotterdam, arriving in Amsterdam a whole 3 minutes earlier(!), but this is only worth it if the two additional trains are loco-hauled. Is anyone able to advise?

Thanks

*A cunning plan to get extra locomotives in the book! Because the Brussels-Vienna sleeper runs on Mondays, I should get 2 locos between Amsterdam and Nuremburg, then another 2 between Nuremburg and Kufstein, then change onto the RailJet to Vienna (my final destination) which is booked for a pair of RJ sets (so, in theory, 6 different locos instead of 2 if I went straight to Vienna. Plus whatever I get between Brussels and Amsterdam. Much more fun than taking the sleeper straight from Brussels!)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Reservations are neither required nor indeed even offered on that service.

This thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tional-journey-with-an-interrail-card.235957/
...suggests that the supplement (not a reservation) for using services on the high speed line does not apply if you are making an international journey.

 

[rvdborgt]

Reservations are not available on the IC trains between Amsterdam and Brussels. There is a supplement for travel on services using the high speed line Rotterdam - Schiphol but that doesn't apply to passengers with an international ticket, including Interrail.

 

[matt]

I travelled on it towards the end of last year. I had a Benulux interrail and no reservation was required.

 

[rvdborgt]

The ICD services between Breda and Amsterdam are all loco hauled.
If you want a couchette or sleeper on the night train, book it ASAP. Online, tickets.oebb.at is the best place to do it.

 

[matt]

I believe currently on the high speed line to Amsterdam everything is either loco hauled, eurostar or ex-thayls eurostars. On the day the NS app will show allocations. https://www.beluxtrains.net/indexen.php is good for the booked traction in Belgium

 

[DanielB]

The "IC Brussel" train will (I believe) have a class 186 on either end.

It has. In most cases two NS-branded locos but there are some NMBS 186 in use as well (in the livery of the lease company).

I could take the 1451 from Brussels instead as far as Antwerp, which I think should be one or two class 18s, then change onto the "IC Brussel" service (which the 1451 overtakes because it goes via the airport). I could then also change at Breda and Rotterdam, arriving in Amsterdam a whole 3 minutes earlier(!), but this is only worth it if the two additional trains are loco-hauled. Is anyone able to advise?

You'll have train 1154 from Breda to Rotterdam then, and the 1041 from Rotterdam to Amsterdam which are indeed both loco hauled. Only difference is you'll have an SW7 (7 car ICRmh) set from Brussels and an SW9 (9 car ICRmh) on the domestic services. But the carriages are exactly the same.
On the domestic services you might however also find a Bpmbdzf7 in the composition, which is a former driving trailer no longer used as such.

 

[ABB125]

Thanks very much everyone.