Fyra

• What is Fyra?
• Is it profitable?
• Is it a luxury train?
• What is the added value?

That are questions you could ask when you say Fyra.
The Fyra is an high speed train employed by NS and NS Hispeed. This train rides on HSL South, a high speed line. This section runs between Amsterdam, Schipholñ, Rotterdam (…..and Breda). It is an old locomotive with 7 old, German carriages. In the future they hope to use new material, but at the moment we have to do with the old rubbish. You have to pay more for an old train, that only rides 20 kilometers faster than the normal intercity. There is hardly any time saving.

Fyra runs twice an hour between Amsterdam Main station and …..Breda. This “high” speed train only runs 160 kilometers per hour. This train costs millions of euro’s and is expected to be unprofitable until 2028. For example between Rotterdam and Schiphol you pay 2,10 euro more than the normal intercity fare for 20 minutes gain. The normal intercity doesn’t require the surcharge and this takes 46 minutes instead of 26 minutes. The added value is in my opinion the time saving but is it worth 2,10 euro.

The carriages are similar to the International train between Amsterdam and Brussels and are noisier than the normal intercity. The Fyra isn’t a luxury train, like the ICE International or the Thalys. The time saving is the only asset!

What is the added value? In my opinion the only added value for the Fyra, is when there is a problem on the regular railway, you can make use of the Fyra, which runs on the HSL South, without the surcharge. There were plans to make a connection between Antwerp and Breda, but the Belgium’s do not want to pay for their share. NS Hispeed had already built the connection between Moerdijk and Breda, which is now needless.

Will Fyra ever be a success. We’ll see in the future?!