More and faster trains between the Netherlands and Belgium

[DanielB]

NS and Belgian operator NMBS will double the number of Intercity services from the Netherlands to Brussels from 16 to 32 per day. In the 2025 timetable a new, quicker service will be added. With that service passengers will see their journey times shortened by 45 minutes compared to the current timetable. NS will deploy the new ICNG-stock on this service, running at 200 km/h on the high speed line. This connection will be complemented by an IC between Rotterdam, Breda and Brussels.

The shorter journey time is possible by using faster trains, less stops and the new terminus at Amsterdam South which is closer to the high speed line than Amsterdam Central. In the near future NS and NMBS work on further details like timetables and ticket prices.

Source: https://www.nsinternational.com/nl/nieuws/sneller-en-vaker-met-de-trein-naar-belgie

Doubling the frequency makes sense in my opinion, as the current Amsterdam - Brussels service is at capacity and in desperate need of more capacity. Though this will already improve with the introduction of ICNG as this enables the option of coupling additional sets for busy trains, where the current capacity is limited by the available amount of Belgium-capable ICRmh carriages.
Especially skipping Breda by the fast service saves a lot of time as the need to reverse makes the current service very slow (I actually once managed to get off that train at Breda, buy some döner at the station concourse, and to get back on the same train with dinner)
Though only stopping at Brussels South may be inconvenient for some changes to other services. Stopping at Amsterdam South on the other hand is only an inconvenience for some connections into North Holland province and won't make that much of a difference towards Amsterdam city centre which is as easily reached by metro from Amsterdam South as it is from Amsterdam Central. Though the attractivity of the station is in need for some improvement.
Below infographic provides some more insight into the proposed services:

 

[peterblue]

Interesting development. It looks like NMBS/NS are attempting to compete with the faster Thalys service by running additional services with very few stops. Skipping Breda and Brussels Airport does save a lot of time, though not too much time would be lost by serving another Brussels station closer to the city centre.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, the blue service in the map is essentially the same as the current IC/Benelux trains but cut back to Rotterdam rather than running up to A'dam CS. The yellow service will be much faster, but obvioulsy won't be able to run in the opposite 30 mins to the blue service at all times and threading trains through from Antwerpen to Brussels is already quite complicated so there may need to be reorganisation of the NMBS/SNCB timetable here? Will the trains start/arrive at Rotterdam at 30 min intervals or will be they be time to do this at Antwerpen?

 

[JonasB]

Though the attractivity of the station is in need for some improvement.

That's a very important point. While Amsterdam Centraal is a beautiful building where you don't mind waiting, Amsterdam Zuid is a couple of platforms in the middle of a motorway.

 

[DanielB]

That's a very important point. While Amsterdam Centraal is a beautiful building where you don't mind waiting, Amsterdam Zuid is a couple of platforms in the middle of a motorway.

The motorway should be under ground eventually, though that definitely won't be ready in 2025.
Important note as well: in the new franchise as of 2025, in which this is the only international route (all others allow open access), the route is mentioned to start in "Amsterdam". So not mentioning a specific station which is the case for Rotterdam.

 

[rvdborgt]

The motorway should be under ground eventually, though that definitely won't be ready in 2025.
Important note as well: in the new franchise as of 2025, in which this is the only international route (all others allow open access), the route is mentioned to start in "Amsterdam". So not mentioning a specific station which is the case for Rotterdam.

The restucturing of Amsterdam Zuid and surroundings will only be ready in the late 2030s...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2023 ==

Skipping Breda and Brussels Airport does save a lot of time, though not too much time would be lost by serving another Brussels station closer to the city centre.

NMBS say the north and central stations in Brussels will also be served by the fast service from/to Amsterdam:

NMBS en NS verdubbelen Intercity-aanbod tussen België en Nederland

NMBS en haar Nederlandse partner NS verdubbelen vanaf eind volgend jaar het aantal internationale Intercitytreinen tussen Brussel en Nederland...

press.nmbs.be