Efficiency

At the end of 2011 a manager introduced - what he thought was -  a good idea. This idea ´should´ improve the HSL South (a high speed line in the Netherlands). But an important station will lose its InterCity status. This is station Dordrecht.

The idea is that the InterCity trains between The Hague and Eindhoven (and Venlo) and the international train between Amsterdam central station and Brussels South (InterCity Brussels) will run between Rotterdam and Breda/Antwerp on the HSL South line. This idea gives 5 minutes time saving, but passengers from Dordrecht are forced to take the Sprinter or other local trains.

IC The Hague-Venlo

Dordrecht is now an InterCity station where all InterCity-, International-, Local- and Sprinter trains stop. Dordrecht central station has seven platforms and more than 20.000 commuters, students and passengers pass through a day. Per hour 22 train depart in the direction of Amsterdam, The Hague, Brussels, Eindhoven and Rotterdam.

But the chance that this idea will be realized is low. Several political parties have criticism.

If the normal InterCity will run over the HSL South line the frequency over this line will increased, so that important trains like Thalys of Fyra will be interfered. If there is an accident or a defect with a normal train, the important trains will be delayed.

Hopefully this idea will be abounded, because the travel time to and from Dordrecht will increase or there will be one or two more transfers.