Fyra
| File:Fyra.jpg | |
| File:Fyra Vught.jpg | |
| Franchise(s) | International joint operation Service to begin in 2009 |
|---|---|
| Main station(s) | Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal, Antwerpen-Centraal, Brussels-South |
| Fleet size | 19 V250 sets |
| Stations called at | 7 |
| Parent company | NS Hispeed and NMBS |
| Other | |
| Website | www.fyra.com |
Fyra is the brand name for the high-speed train service operating on the Dutch HSL-Zuid and planned for the Belgian HSL 4, between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Breda, Antwerp and Brussels.[1] Fyra will share the high-speed tracks with existing operator Thalys. The service is offered by NS Hispeed and the NMBS/SNCB. The name Fyra represents pride, and is derived from the French fier, meaning proud. Fyra is also the Swedish word for four, and is said to represent the four important cities which the new trains will serve - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels.[2]
Operations
The majority of NS Hispeed services will start at Amsterdam Centraal station. These will include two trains per hour to Rotterdam, two trains per hour to Breda and one train per hour to Antwerp and Brussels. All trains from Amsterdam will stop at both Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam. Services outside the Netherlands will be operated in conjunction with NMBS, Belgium's national railway operator. To compensate for the loss of direct service between The Hague and Brussels, and to connect Breda to destinations south of the border, it was envisaged by Dutch politicians that several Fyra trains a day would run from The Hague via Breda to Brussels. It is uncertain whether this service will go forward, as NMBS do not see it as being profitable[3].
An hourly high-speed service between Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam was introduced in September 2009.
Rolling stock
NS Hispeed has ordered 16 V250 trains from AnsaldoBreda, with NMBS ordering a further three sets. They will be used on the Dutch domestic services and the NS Hispeed services to Brussels.[1] These sets will be eight carriages long and have a top speed of 250 km/h, and are expected to enter services in the second half of 2010.[1]
In the meantime, in order to dispense with the increasingly unreliable[4] SNCB Class 11 locomotives which are currently used on Amsterdam-Brussels services, NS Hispeed have hired twelve Bombardier Traxx F140 MS electric locomotives from Angel Trains, numbered in the range E186 111 to E186 122.[4]
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number | Built | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||
| F140 MS | 
|
Electric locomotive | 100 | 160 | 12 | 2005-2007 | Interim useage until EMUs ready |
| V250 | 
|
Electric multiple unit | 155 | 250 | 19 (planned) | 2008-2010 | Tricurrent |
References
- ^ a b c "Fyra brand for Amsterdam – Brussels high speed". Railway Gazette International. 2009-07-07.
- ^ "Albatros to Fyra for Benelux high speed service". Todays Railways Europe. September 2009. p. 6.
- ^ http://www.rover.nl/nieuws/berichten/berichten.php?id=ber091114
- ^ a b "Angel Trains Cargo E186 series". Railcolor.net - Modern Locomotive Power. Retrieved 16 December 2008.