The Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS, the Netherlands‘ state railway, ordered 36 new Stadler Flirt Flex, Sprinter in NS terminology, trains for over €400 million. Unlike the current Sprinter trains, the ultramodern trains, named Flirt Flex, will once again have the classic yellow-blue NS livery. The first trains are expected to enter Dutch service in 2030.
The new trains can be used not only as local, so-called Sprinter trains but also as Intercity trains, allowing NS to flexibly respond to growing passenger demand. NS placed the order with Swiss train manufacturer Stadler, which has previously built Sprinter trains for NS. “
“From 2030, we will welcome this new, modern train with a classic look. A true asset to the current fleet. Yellow-blue trains have been a part of the Netherlands for decades, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why we’ve invested billions of euros in new trains in recent years so that our passengers can still enjoy reliable and sustainable travel in 30 years’ time”, Wouter Koolmees, CEO of NS, says in the press release.
Investment in new trains
With this new order, 205 new NS trains will be running on the Dutch railways in a few years. Including 60 new double-decker trains (DDNG) from the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and 109 new intercity trains (ICNG) from train manufacturer Alstom. NS is investing over 2 billion euros in new trains.
New Sprinter
NS asked Stadler for a comfortable, reliable, and accessible train that can be used as a sprinter: quick acceleration and braking and suitable for speeds up to 160 km/h.
This new sprinter can on some routes, the trains will also be used as Intercity trains. This will allow NS to utilize the rolling stock more efficiently. The initial order consists of 36 trains with over 8,000 seats. NS also reserves the option to purchase additional Flirt Flex trains, including trains suitable for service to Germany and Belgium.
In the coming period, Stadler and NS will jointly determine the final design. This will be followed by an extensive period of production, testing, and approval.
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