Benelux train Brussels – Amsterdam to become Brussels – Amsterdam – Lelystad in 2025 (with reservations?)

On 8 February 2024, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, NS, presented its 2025 timetable. We already new there would be two Benelux / Amsterdammer / Brusselaar / Intercity Brussel train services per hour. But there’s more news. The Benelux train will swap Amsterdam Central Station for Amsterdam South (Amsterdam Zuid) due to engineering works and the service will now start / end at Lelystad.

Since 1957 a regular train service links the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, to the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium, Brussels. Originally, the service was supposed to continue to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and its eponymous capital Luxembourg, but that never happened. The name, Benelux, stuck though.

In the Netherlands, you’re more likely to hear ‘Brusselaar‘ or ‘Intercity Brussel‘. From a Belgian point of view, ‘Amsterdammer‘ would be more accurate. But for many Belgians, the name is ‘de Benelux-trein‘, ‘le Benelux‘.

Anyway.

We already knew the Benelux would run twice per hour, in a fast version and a slower version. The slow version would start from Rotterdam Central, include Breda and more stations in Belgium: Noorderkempen, Antwerp-Berchem, Mechelen, Brussels Airport – Zaventem, Brussels-North and Brussels-Central.

Lelystad

The fast version, would start in Amsterdam South and call at Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Central, Antwerp-Central and Brussels-South (Midi/Zuid). In two hours. Obviously these stops are also called at by the slow Benelux.

Now, in the 8 February press release NS communicates the fast Benelux will actually start at Lelystad Centre (Lelystad Centrum), the provincial capital of Flevoland.

Wouter Koolmees, CEO of NS: “Train passengers are currently experiencing inconvenience from less available equipment and personnel, speed restrictions and necessary work. Although this new timetable cannot correct all problems on the track, we have still been able to implement a large number of improvements. For example, we operate new and faster intercity trains on the high-speed line from Rotterdam to Lelystad and Amersfoort. We run six sprinters (i.e. omnibus trains, red.) per hour between Rotterdam and The Hague and we run more trains in the early morning and late evening. Step by step, we are making the train an attractive way of traveling for more and more travelers.”

In the new timetable, the intercity trains on the high-speed line between Breda, Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport will continue to Amsterdam South, instead of Amsterdam Central.

In the future, NS wants to run these trains to Groningen or Leeuwarden, but due to the speed restrictions on the HSL and the pace at which the new ICNG is delivered, this is not yet possible in 2025, the press release says.

“That is why they will continue to Almere and Lelystad or Hilversum and Amersfoort. This adjustment means that all intercity trains from Enschede will continue to Utrecht Central Station and The Hague Central Station. This means that travelers to Schiphol from the East of the Netherlands transfer at Amersfoort station. The stations between Amsterdam South and Lelystad will have a direct connection with Antwerp and Brussels once an hour.”

Video on the 2025 NS timetable.

Rumour: reservations

Now, I’m spreading a rumour. I’ve been told NS is thinking of introducing a reservation system on the fast Benelux, between Amsterdam and Brussels. But not on the section Amsterdam to Lelystad.

This raises questions.

How rigorous would this be? Would reserving a seat be compulsory? Will it be optional? Is that practical, having it both ways?
Is the ICNG equipped to indicate reservations at the seat, as its counterparts TGV InOui in France and ICE in Germany do? I think not?
Who will enforce? The train guards? They will be happy (ahum) having to intervene in passengers arguing over a reserved seat.

Has NS made a decision? I don’t know. A decision hasn’t been made public. We’ll have to wait and see.

What next?

Every year, NS asks passenger organizations and regional authorities at the beginning of the year for advice about the timetable that starts in December 2024. NS uses this advice to improve the plans where possible.

Infrastructure manager ProRail then examines whether NS’s wishes fit on the track, also taking into account the wishes of other passenger carriers and freight carriers. The final timetable will be announced in the autumn.

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