Erasmus (train)

{{Italic title}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = ''Erasmus'' | logo = | logo_width = | image = Aussichtswagen innen.jpg | image_width = | caption = Vista-dome car (ADm), interior | type = Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1973–1980) InterCity (IC) (1980–1987) EuroCity (EC) (1987–2000) | status = Discontinued | locale = Netherlands Germany Austria | predecessor = | first = {{start date|1973|06|03|df=y}} | last = {{end date|2000|11|02|df=y}} | successor = ICE | operator = | formeroperator = Deutsche Bundesbahn | ridership = | start = The Hague | stops = | end = München | distance = 915 km | journeytime = | frequency = Daily | trainnumber = | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | sleeping = | autorack = | catering = | observation = ADm vista-dome | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = | gauge = {{RailGauge|sg}} | el = 1500 V DC (Netherlands) 15 kV 16,7 Hz (Germany & Austria) | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state = }}

The '''''Erasmus''''' was an express train that linked The Hague, the Dutch seat of government, with Munich in Germany. The train was named for the Dutch Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus.<ref>La Légende des TEE p. 334.</ref>

==Trans Europ Express== The ''Erasmus'' was launched on 3 June 1973 on request of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen in order to provide a direct TEE service between The Hague and Germany.<ref>TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 125.</ref> The Deutsche Bundesbahn wanted to have an extra TEE service linking Cologne and Munich, using the same intinary as the former ''TEE Rheinpfeil''.<ref>La Légende des TEE p. 335.</ref> Although the ''Rheinpfeil'' was relabeled from TEE to IC already in 1971, a time-consuming exchange of coaches, including vista-dome cars, with the ''TEE Rheingold'' in Duisburg was upheld until May 1973.<ref>Das grosse TEE Buch p. 82</ref> The new ''TEE Erasmus'' was scheduled to have timed connections with the ''TEE Prinz Eugen'' in both directions in Würzburg.<ref>La Légende des TEE p. 336.</ref> From 1973 on there were no exchanges of coaches in Duisburg any more between ''Rheingold'' and ''Rheinpfeil'' (the ''Rheinpfeil'' even was rerouted to Basel instead of Munich in 1979). However, the maintenance of the vista-dome cars (class ADm) had to take place in the DB-works in Münich, which was not on the ''Rheingold''{{'s}} route at that time. In order to include the regular maintenance in the normal operation, the ''Erasmus'' was allocated vista-dome cars as well. The formations of ''TEE Rheingold'' and ''TEE Erasmus'' changed places, Hook of Holland and The Hague, during the night so every vista-dome car could be serviced in Münich every 5 days.<ref>TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 125.</ref> Initially, the service started in The Hague HS (Hollands Spoor) on the Amsterdam–Rotterdam railway, using a connection track to the Hague–Utrecht–Germany railway to go eastbound.<ref>Das grosse TEE Buch p. 87</ref> In Germany, the train was running via Cologne, Mainz Hbf, Frankfurt Hbf and Wurzburg Hbf to Munich.

On 30 May 1976, the vista-dome cars were withdrawn from service in all trains and replaced by class ARD (bar/business) coaches.<ref>TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 126.</ref><ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de">{{cite book |first1= Maurice |last1= Mertens |first2=Jean-Pierre |last2= Malaspina |title= TEE: Die Geschichte des Trans Europ Express |trans-title=TEE: The History of the Trans Europ Express |pages=244–245 |location= Düsseldorf |publisher= Alba Publikation |language= German |date= 2009 |isbn= 978-3-87094-199-4}}</ref> From the same date, after the completion of The Hague Central Station, the western terminus of the Hague–Utrecht–Germany railway, the ''Erasmus''{{'s}} western terminus was changed to Central station instead of Holland Station, thus abandoning the connection track.<ref>La Légende des TEE p. 335.</ref> The train's route was also changed on its southern section, between Mainz and Munich, to run Mannheim Hbf – Stuttgart Hbf – Augsburg Hbf.<ref name="cooks1976may30">"Editorial" (news and service changes). ''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (May 30 – June 30, 1976 edition), p. 6. Peterborough, England: Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref> However, from 27 May 1979, the train reverted to serving Frankfurt but was curtailed to terminate, the section to Munich being largely discontinued.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/> The only remnant of the latter was that, on Fridays only, the northbound ''Erasmus'' started in Nuremberg (and this followed the pre-1976 routing, via Wurzburg),<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/><ref name="cooks1976may30" /> which lasted until its discontinuation as a Trans Europ Express.<ref name="cooks1980mar"/> Also on 27 May 1979, the train's Dutch terminus was changed to Amsterdam instead of The Hague.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/><ref name="cooks1979may">"Table 10 – Trans-Europe Express Services". ''Thomas Cook International Timetable'' (May 27–June 30, 1979 edition), p. 67. Peterborough, England: Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref>

The ''Erasmus''{{'s}} last day as a TEE was 31 May 1980. On the following day it became a two-class InterCity train, extended to Innsbruck.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/><ref name="cooks1980mar">''Thomas Cook International Timetable'' (March 1 – April 5, 1980 edition), pp. 67, 588. Peterborough, England: Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref>

==Two-class train== In June 1980, the ''Erasmus'' was converted to InterCity class, and thereby began carrying second-class coaches in addition to first-class ones, and at its southern end it was re-extended to Munich and beyond, to terminate at Innsbruck, in Austria.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/><ref name="cooks1980mar"/>

The ''Erasmus'' continued as InterCity service until 30 May 1987. On 31 May 1987, the ''Erasmus'' became part of the initial EuroCity services. On 2 June 1991, the route was shortened to Amsterdam – Cologne and eventually replaced by ICE services on 3 November 2000.<ref>La Légende des TEE p. 337.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Works cited== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |ref= Hajt|first= Jörg |last= Hajt|title= Das grosse TEE Buch |location= Bonn/Königswinter |publisher= Heel Verlag |language= German |year= 2001 |isbn= 3-89365-948-X}} *{{cite book |ref= TEEFR |first1= Maurice|last1= Mertens|first2=Jean-Pierre|last2= Malaspina|title= La Légende des Trans Europ Express|location= Vannes |publisher= LR Presse |language= French |year= 2007 |isbn= 978-29-036514-5-9}} *{{cite book |ref= TEEDE|first= Peter|last= Goette|title= TEE-Züge in Deutschland|location= Freiburg |publisher= EK-Verlag|language= German |year= 2008 |isbn= 978-3-88255-698-8}} {{refend}}

Category:International named passenger trains Category:Named passenger trains of Austria Category:Named passenger trains of Germany Category:Named passenger trains of the Netherlands Category:Trans Europ Express Category:EuroCity Category:Railway services introduced in 1973 Category:Railway services discontinued in 2000