Train Cab Ride NL / Test Ride 'Airport Sprinter' / Hoofddorp - Schiphol - Amsterdam / SNG / Aug '24

Bonus video! I know I said the next video was on the 4th of October 2024. But I have a little bonus for you all. I recorded one of the test rides on the 'Airport Sprinter'. Which is just a normal NS Sprinter, but the driver will take care of the closing of the doors instead of the train manager. The train manager will stay on board for service, ticket checking, tunnel safety and safety on board of the train. This train will start running at the end of 2024 when the new train schedule will be put in service.

For the passengers there's not nothing that changes. The change on these train is seen in the cabin where you have the extra screens on the right side. On those screens the driver is able to see what happens on the platform before closing the doors. As soon as the driver want to drive the train, those screens are turned off so the driver can focus on the tracks and signals. Only on a stopover they will show the camera views.

I hear you think: now what is the upside of this system? Well: it saves an average 10-15 seconds on the departure procedure. The driver can close all doors at the same time while the train manager would need to close one door separately at the end of the process. That last part is not needed anymore. We save this time four times on the route (one way) creating almost a minute extra time in the train schedule per ride. Not much, but it makes a huge difference. Because of the extra time we can now plan one extra train in every direction per 30 minutes on the line. And that's the reason of this project.

The closing of the door now takes about 10 to 15 seconds in total (including sounding the automatic train whistle).

0:00 Hoofddorp Midden
Let's start the ride in Hoofd Midden. The shunting tracks at Hoofddorp station. In the new train schedule in the end of the year the Sprinters will change direction at the platforms in Hoofddorp itself. They won't be driving to these shunting tracks anymore.

1:53 Hoofddorp
Because there's a slightly delayed train ahead of us (Sprinter + Eurostar London) we depart just a few seconds late from Hoofddorp. On our way to the Airport we must take it easy causing a minute delay on our schedule.

4:54 Schipholtunnel

7:10 Schiphol Airport
At the Airport I'll show you five pictures of the camera system that is shown to the driver. The driver of course sees a live view of the camera's. This systems helps the driver to see what is happening on the platform. When the driver closes the doors we have on board systems checking if all the doors are safely closed before the driver can move the train.

11:34 Riekerpolder Aansluiting
As off the end of the year we will have 8 trains an hour running in both directions between Amsterdam - Schiphol - Hoofddorp. Another 2 trains are added to the line but they will come from/to the Hoorn direction, joining in from/to Amsterdam Sloterdijk. This makes a total of 10 Sprinters an hour between Hoofddorp - Schiphol - Amsterdam Sloterdijk vv. every hour.

We are a little behind on schedule due to the delayed train ahead of us. Only Eurostar Londen (now ahead of us) will keep running towards the Central Station in the new train schedule. The rest of the international trains will be diverted to Amsterdam Zuid. Also all Intercity Direct trains will run via Amsterdam Zuid to other destinations in the country as off that moment. Connecting even more city's to the international train system soon.

This creates space on the line Hoofddorp - Schiphol - Amsterdam for the new Sprinter service, which will run at least every 7.5 minutes between all stations.

15:13 Amsterdam Lelylaan
At this stop the train manager let's us know he changes to the other train set on our train. He lets us know because we won't be leaving him at the station of course. We must wait until the train manager boarded again. After that we can start closing the doors.

19:04 Amsterdam Sloterdijk
Back on schedule we depart here again. :) The trains ahead of us are now far enough and won't be causing any further trouble.

22:28 Transformatorweg Aansluiting
23:50 Singelgrachtbrug

24:55 Amsterdam Centraal
Arriving at our final stop for this bonus video. I hope you've enjoyed the ride. Remember: this project is meant to create one minute extra time in the train schedule so we can add an extra train to the service every 30 minutes. There will always be a train manager on board of the train to help you out if you have questions or what soever. :) Have your ticket ready when the train manager comes your way. :)

Have a good weekend! Cheers!

The Meaning of Signals
https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0017707

More Ride Info
https://treinposities.nl/ritinfo/2024...

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