Train Cab Ride NL / Storm Ciara HSL / Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Watergraafsmeer / Feb 2020

Welcome on board of the Intercity Direct service from Amsterdam to Rotterdam and back! It's going to be a very windy ride because of storm Ciara that passed by The Netherlands on the 9th of February 2020.

Edit: Amsterdam Lelylaan is not in a different time zone... it's a typo in the time notation. Fat fingers... ;)

0:00 Amsterdam Centraal
For starters we begin our ride in Amsterdam and depart 45 seconds late because the departure process wasn't started on time. No problem we drive our train on full speed to Schiphol and arrive on time there.

5:08 Amsterdam Sloterdijk
7:19 Amsterdam Lelylaan
10:50 Schipholtunnel

12:04 Schiphol Airport
As you might see there are trains coming from the same tunnel at Schiphol as we need to go in. The reason for this is there are construction works going on in the other tunnel. Only two tracks are available today.

At our departure at Schiphol we're a little late again, but not worries. There's time to get back on schedule.

18:10 Hoofddorp + Entering HSL
22:47 Ringvaart Aquaduct
25:53 Tunnel Groene Hart

31:32 Phase-lock Bleiswijk
Unfortunately just before the Phase-lock at Bleiswijk there's plastic in the overhead wires of the other track on the high speed line. This is what you hear me reporting to the train dispatcher. It takes a while before he takes the phone because there was a lot going on on that moment.

34:54 Tunnel Rotterdam Noord + Leaving HSL
In Rotterdam we have to wait for a little while before our signal gives us permission to leave the high speed line. The train coming from the other side was blocking our way and had a 2 minute delay when entering the high speed line. When this happens our train doesn't have contact with the power lines for going through the voltage change-over. For the driver its very important not to hit the brakes too hard for that causes the train to strand on the ramp of even worse: stranding in the voltage change-over.

40:14 Rotterdam Centraal
On our arrival in Rotterdam we get a call from the planners telling me my shift will change because the high speed line must close after 1pm because of storm Ciara. At that time we already had wind speeds up to 120km/h on land.

In Rotterdam we make the train ready for departure to Amsterdam. Just before that another driver reported the plastic in the overhead wires on the high speed line was now dangerous for other trains. For this Prorail had to close down that track and there was only one track left on the high speed line.

42:09 Departure Rotterdam
After a long time waiting we get permission for departure and leave 21 minutes late to Amsterdam.

44:40 Entering HSL on Left Track
On the high speed line we get to drive on the left track for the plastic is blocking entrance to the other track.

46:03 Tunnel Rotterdam Noord
51:10 Phase-lock Bleiswijk
54:04 Tunnel Groene Hart

59:02 Changing Tracks on HSL
Trains from the Amsterdam direction have to wait until we arrive at the next junction set in Roeloefarendsveen where we change tracks again.

1:02:49 Leaving HSL
Just before Schiphol we must change back to the left tracks because of the construction works. This also means we need to slow down to 80km/h because of all the junctions. And that is the reason why aren't able to reduce our delay.

1:04:50 Hoofddorp
1:06:17 Schipholtunnel

1:07:30 Schiphol Airport
After Schiphol Airport we change back to the right tracks and then have the possibility to reduce our delay with one minute at arrival in Amsterdam.

1:15:50 Amsterdam Lelylaan
1:18:07 Amsterdam Sloterdijk

1:22:06 Amsterdam Centraal
Due to the storm the high speed line must be closed until the weather gets better. This is why we get to shunt our train away to the Watergraafsmeer.

1:28:58 Amsterdam Muiderpoort

1:29:44 Watergraafsmeer
And you have a premier! This video will take us to the new 3300 tracks at the Watergraafsmeer. Enjoy!

If you have any further questions, please let me know in the comments below and I'll come back to you. Cheers!

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