Fyra Suspended
The launch on the Fyra trains between Brussels and Amsterdam, must rank as one of the worst launches of any train services in the last few years. We’ve had a few bad ones in the UK, where reliability has been questioned and we’ve also had problems with the wrong kind of snow, but nothing, which seems to have been hated by so many as this train has. The BBC tries to explain the mess here.
If we are going to go back to the future, let’s hope that Eurostar are able to reinstate their beautifully simple ticket to Any Dutch Station.
I will be first in the queue to buy one!
If they don’t I’ll just go by train to that jewel of the Essex coast; Southend, get in an orange aeroplane and hop across to Schipol. The Belgians, Brussels and the planet will all be losers.
The Anonymous Widower 
In Oz some EU manufacturers have produced lightweight Train Designs to win contracts to win Private Rail Contracts. These trains failed during hot weather {Air Cons not up to standard}, Maintenance Issues, Trains not up to heavy running schedules.
Oz Trains were slightly more expensive, because they were designed for the conditions.
Common Sense now prevails, last NSW contract of $90M . . . went back to Oz Heavy Duty Designs . . . with Proven track records {ave Suburban trains run 1,500,000 Km / Yr.
Comment by Steam Lover | January 23, 2013 |
The Eurostars that go through the Chunnel are basically a French TGV, but they were fitted out to work third rail as well. On the whole they’ve been pretty reliable as have been our diesel IC125s, which you also have in Oz. The problem with the Eurostars in the UK, was when running on the classic lines, they bashed all hell out of the catenary. You seem to have to match the train to the power supply very carefully. You also have to bare in mind, that this is The Netherlands first 25 KV AC line. And then you test it with cheap Italian trains.
Comment by AnonW | January 23, 2013 |