Intercity Direct

{{Short description|Dutch higher-speed train service}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}} thumb|Traxx locomotive with ICRm carriages ready for departure at Amsterdam Centraal {{Intercity Direct RDT}} '''Intercity Direct''', abbreviated to '''ICD''', is a Dutch category of higher-speed train service, operating on the HSL-Zuid and connecting Amersfoort Schothorst / Lelystad to Amsterdam Zuid, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam Centraal and Breda. Some services cross the border with Belgium, extending to Brussels-South. It is part of NS International.

In December 2013, the former Fyra was rebranded to Intercity Direct.

==History== The Intercity Direct train service uses the HSL-Zuid which went into service 7 September 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/ns-hispeed-launches-hsl-zuid-services.html | title=NS Hispeed launches HSL-Zuid services | publisher=Railway Gazette International | date=2009-09-07 | access-date=18 June 2014 | archive-date=2 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702043118/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/ns-hispeed-launches-hsl-zuid-services.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> An hourly domestic service branded Fyra by operator NS Hispeed was started on 7 September 2009 between Amsterdam and Rotterdam using TRAXX-locomotives and ICR-carriages. Initially the service was hourly and weekdays only. On 12 April 2010 service expanded to Saturdays and Sundays. As of 4 October 2010, frequency increased to twice hourly. Service was extended to Breda on 3 April 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/fyra-shuttles-run-through-to-breda.html | title=Fyra shuttles run through to Breda | publisher=Railway Gazette International| date=2011-04-11}}</ref>

An international service also known as Fyra between Amsterdam and Brussels started 9 December 2012 using V250 rolling stock of AnsaldoBreda. From 17 January 2013, this service had to be pulled due to undercarriage damage caused by high velocity with ice and snow. As of June 2013, international Fyra service has been permanently suspended by both Dutch and Belgian railways.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amsterdamtips.com/news/2013/06/end-of-the-line-for-amsterdam-brussels-fyra-high-speed-train | title=End of the line for Amsterdam-Brussels FYRA High Speed Train | publisher=AmsterdamTips.com| date=2013-06-04}}</ref>

Due to the perceived bad reputation of the Fyra brand, the domestic service rebranded into Intercity Direct as of December 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/fyra-brand-extinguished.html | title=Fyra brand extinguished | publisher=Railway Gazette International| date=2013-11-14}}</ref>

As of April 2023, ICNG (Intercity New Generation) units have started replacing the locomotive-hauled services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New high-speed Intercity train debuts on Amsterdam-Rotterdam route today {{!}} NL Times |url=https://nltimes.nl/2023/04/19/new-high-speed-intercity-train-debuts-amsterdam-rotterdam-route-today |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=nltimes.nl |language=en}}</ref> The ICNG trains are capable of operating at speeds up to 200 km/h.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NS verlengt dienstregeling 2022 met een jaar, wijzigingen 2023 uitgesteld|url=https://nieuws.ns.nl/ns-verlengt-dienstregeling-2022-met-een-jaar-wijzigingen-2023-uitgesteld/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=NS verlengt dienstregeling 2022 met een jaar, wijzigingen 2023 uitgesteld|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nieuwe intercity-treinen laten nog langer op zich wachten |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2454552-nieuwe-intercity-treinen-laten-nog-langer-op-zich-wachten |website=NOS |date=30 November 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

As of December 2024, Intercity Direct will no longer stop at Amsterdam Centraal due to the station's renovation. Instead, the service stops at Amsterdam Zuid and continues to Amersfoort Schothorst / Lelystad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verheggen |first=Erik |date=2024-02-08 |title=Intercity direct volgend jaar niet meer naar Amsterdam Centraal - Mobiliteit |url=https://www.mobiliteit.nl/ov/2024/02/08/intercity-direct-volgend-jaar-niet-meer-naar-amsterdam-centraal/?gdpr=deny |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Mobiliteit - Wat u beweegt |language=nl-NL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Intercity direct {{!}} Reisinformatie {{!}} NS |url=https://www.ns.nl/reisinformatie/bijzondere-trajecten/intercity-direct.html |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=Nederlandse Spoorwegen |language=nl}}</ref>

==Services== [[File:Intercity Direct Toeslagpaal.JPG|thumb|OV-Chipcard card reader for paying the Intercity Direct supplement]] Intercity Direct offers the following services:

* 2 trains per hour: Amersfoort Schothorst - Amsterdam Zuid - Schiphol Airport - Rotterdam Centraal – Breda (during late evening hours not operating between Rotterdam - Breda v.v.) * 2 trains per hour: Lelystad Centrum - Almere Centrum - Amsterdam Zuid - Schiphol Airport - Rotterdam Centraal *2 trains per hour: Den Haag Centraal - Rotterdam Centraal - Breda - Tilburg - Eindhoven Centraal *1 train per hour: (Lelystad Centrum) - Amsterdam Zuid - Schiphol Airport - Rotterdam Centraal - Antwerpen Centraal - Brussel Zuid/Midi (Intercity Brussel/Eurocity Direct, also called "Beneluxtrein")

{| class="wikitable" |----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9 ! rowspan="2" | Class  ! rowspan="2" |Illustration ! rowspan="2" | Type  ! colspan="2" | Top speed  ! rowspan="2" | Number  ! rowspan="2" | Routes operated  ! rowspan="2" | Built  |----- bgcolor=#f9f9f9 ! mph  ! km/h  |- |Class 186 ''Traxx'' |100px |Locomotive |100 |160 |NS 65 loco's NMBS 12 loco's | Amersfoort - Amsterdam - Schiphol - Rotterdam - Breda<br />Lelystad - Schiphol - Rotterdam

(Lelystad) - Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Brussels

(Lelystad) - Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Brussels

Den Haag - Rotterdam - Breda - Eindhoven

|1980-1988 |- |ICNG |100px |Electric multiple unit |125 |200 | |All Intercity direct routes |2016–present |}

==Supplement== A supplemental fare is required for any trip on the Intercity Direct that includes the Schiphol Airport–Rotterdam stretch. Single-use supplements cost €3.20 during peak hours and €1.92 during off-peak hours (2026) regardless of the class.<ref name="toeslag">{{Cite web |title=Intercity direct supplement {{!}} ns.nl |url=https://www.ns.nl/en/season-tickets/other/intercity-direct-supplement.html |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>

This supplement can be paid by touching an OV-Chipcard or Contactless payment to a "supplement pillar," which can be found on platforms from which Intercity Direct trains depart. These pillars are similar to OV-Chipcard validation machines, but contain a red "Toeslag" label. A bi-lingual sign indicates for which train the supplement is required. If the supplement was mistakenly paid, touching an OV-Chipcard to the same device within 30 minutes on the same station will cancel the purchase.<ref name="toeslag" />

Journeys between Schiphol Airport railway station and Amsterdam Zuid, or between Rotterdam Centraal and Breda, can be made without paying the supplement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Intercity direct |url=https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/intercity-direct.html |website=ns.nl |publisher=NS |access-date=29 January 2026}}</ref> International tickets for the trains which continue to Belgium include the supplement in their cost.<ref name="toeslag" />

==See also== * Rail transport in Europe

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/intercity-direct.html Intercity Direct] on the NS website * [https://www.9292.nl/en/ Public transport route planner 9292]

Category:High-speed rail in the Netherlands