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VIDEO | NS present CAF Civity Duo ‘Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie’, poised to be the NMBS / SNCB AM30

Posted by Timothy on

Today, 5 March 2025, the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) present its Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie or Double-Decker New Generation. This train is a Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) Civity Duo. This type of train is poised to become the NMBS / SNCB‘s AM30 / MR30. A coincidence? Probably.

“The old double-deckers will need to be replaced in a few years. We also expect more train passengers in the future. With the new double-deckers, we are preparing for this growth. We want to offer enough space and a comfortable train. We know from research that passengers find freedom of choice important. Some people want to work quietly, others prefer to talk to family or friends. We have included all these wishes in the design. The design phase has now been completed and I think it is a fantastic result. Production of the first trains will start in the second half of this year”, Roel Okhuijsen, director of New Material NS, says on the NS website.

NS’ Dubbeldekker Nieuwe Generatie. Image by NS. Screenshot from its YouTube channel.

Characteristics of the new double-decker

  • Accessibility was important in the development of this train: the ends of the train are single-decker with a level entrance. Here, for example, people in a wheelchair or with a pram can enter the train independently. This combination of carriages is new in the Netherlands.
  • In order to ensure as many seats as possible, two seats on both sides of the aisle were chosen in first class.
  • Introduction of new seats: a high bar table along the window with a view outside, where passengers can open their laptop and a raised seat for four people with space for extra luggage.
  • As much use as possible is made of renewable, used and recycled materials.
  • 60 trains (30 consisting of four carriages and 30 of six carriages), approximately 30,000 seats.
  • The train has a top speed of 160 km/h.

In addition to a standard toilet, the train has a wheelchair-accessible toilet. Icons on the outside of the train indicate where passengers with a pram or large luggage can sit. 

Both the outside of the train and the intermediate doors in the train indicate whether it is first or second class. Power sockets and USB-C charging points are available at almost all seats. Finally, passengers will immediately see a digital screen with extensive travel information upon entering.

Sustainable double-decker

A material passport is created for this train before it is built. The passport provides insight into the origin of the materials used to build the train. 

“With this passport, we select circular materials together with the manufacturer that do not contribute to the depletion of raw materials and that can be dismantled and recycled after the life of the train. In this way, we ensure that we prevent waste as much as possible in the future when designing the train. The DDNG is the first train with a material passport”, NS days.

Interior of the train

In 2018, NS presented the new interior vision during the Dutch Design Week. More than 600 train passengers then tested the designs in practice. The starting point was to create more space in the train and to increase comfort and experience. 

“The Double-Decker New Generation is the first train to put this vision into practice. The new seats with a high bar table along the window emerged from this. A raised seat for four people and the ceiling with a wood pattern also emerged from this vision. This creates a warm and pleasant appearance.” 

Conductors and drivers were also involved in the design of the interior and the cabin. The images on the walls and doors are the work of Marieke van Diemen.

The first trains are expected to hit the track in 2029.

Same for NMBS / SNCB

Rhe CAF Civity Duo fullfils the requirements and wishes of NMBS / SNCB. Single-decker coaches at the extremities, double-decker coaches in the centre. This accommodates people with reduced mobility (PRM). 

But expect interior design to be quite different.

Roosendaal

If NS and NMBS / SNCB will indeed use similar rolling stock, this will help homologation for trains from Belgium to Maastricht, to Roosendaal and perhaps, one day, to Weert. 

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