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The Intercity Nieuwe Generatie (), or ICNG, nicknamed "Wesp" (Wasp) is an
electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...
trainset of the
Dutch Railways (, , NS ) is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. It is a Dutch state-owned company founded in 1938. The rail infrastructure is maintained by network manager ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003. Freight operat ...
. In addition to supplementing the existing intercity rolling stock, it will replace the
Bombardier TRAXX Alstom Traxx (sold as Bombardier TRAXX before 2021) is a modular product platform of mainline diesel-electric and electric locomotives. It was produced originally by Bombardier Transportation and later Alstom, and was built in both freight and ...
locomotives and coaches on the high-speed line between Amsterdam and Belgium. This will provide the connection that was originally planned to be provided by the
Fyra Fyra () was a short-lived international high-speed rail service between the Netherlands and Belgium using the AnsaldoBreda V250 train. The service used the HSL-Zuid and HSL 4 railway lines to connect Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, An ...
service, which was cancelled in 2013. The process to acquire the trains began in 2014, eventually resulting in trains built by
Alstom Alstom SA () is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer which operates worldwide in rail transport markets. It is active in the fields of passenger transportation, signaling, and locomotives, producing high-speed, suburban, regional ...
Konstal Alstom Konstal is a company based in Chorzów, Poland producing rail vehicles, in particular metro cars and trams, as well as components for trains. In 1864, the plant was founded as part of the Royal Steelworks in Chorzów and in 1917, it was ...
in Poland based on their Coradia Stream platform. The trains arrived in the Netherlands starting in 2020, and after a period of testing, entered passenger service in April 2023.


History

The NS began procurement of a new intercity trainset in July 2014. At that time, it aimed to receive the trains in 2021 and to start deployment in 2022. The respondents were Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier and Stadler. In May 2016 NS announced that Alstom had won a contract for around 80 trainsets. At the end of May, the contract was finalized to include a total of 79 trainsets, including 49 5-car units and 30 8-car units. Since the cancellation of the
Fyra Fyra () was a short-lived international high-speed rail service between the Netherlands and Belgium using the AnsaldoBreda V250 train. The service used the HSL-Zuid and HSL 4 railway lines to connect Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, An ...
service, NS had been operating the Intercity Direct service using
TRAXX Alstom Traxx (sold as Bombardier TRAXX before 2021) is a modular product platform of mainline diesel-electric and electric locomotives. It was produced originally by Bombardier Transportation and later Alstom, and was built in both freight an ...
locomotives and existing ''Intercityrijtuig'' coaches dating back to the 1980s. To replace these, the order with Alstom was expanded with trains capable of running on both Belgian and Dutch track. In 2017, the order was expanded with two 8-car trains, which was later expanded to a total of 20 trains. The first train arrived in the Netherlands on 23 May 2020 to begin testing on the Dutch railway network. Permission to operate on the Dutch network was granted at the end of 2022. In April 2023, the NS began phasing the ICNG into operation. The train is initially running on the high-speed line between Schiphol and Breda at , a significant improvement over the existing equipment, which can only operate up to . NS plans to introduce the ICNG between The Hague - Eindhoven, Amsterdam - Groningen, Amsterdam - Leeuwarden and Amsterdam - Enschede.


Incidents

* On 16 October 2020, two ICNG units were being towed when the train derailed at Dreileben, Germany. The driver of the locomotive hauling the train was injured. The two units were being towed by a diesel locomotive from the Alstom factory at
Salzgitter Salzgitter (; Eastphalian dialect, Eastphalian: ''Soltgitter'') is an independent city#Germany, independent city in southeast Lower Saxony, Germany, located between Hildesheim and Braunschweig. Together with Wolfsburg and Braunschweig, Salzgitte ...
routed via
Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...
for
25 kV AC railway electrification Railway electrification systems using alternating current (AC) at are used worldwide, especially for high-speed rail. It is usually supplied at the standard utility frequency (typically 50 or 60Hz), which simplifies traction substations. The dev ...
testing at Blankenburg (Harz) station on the
Rübeland Railway The Rübeland Railway (, ) is a railway link from Blankenburg via Rübeland and Königshütte to Tanne in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It was built by the Halberstadt-Blankenburg railway (HBE) between 1880 and 1886. The route leng ...
. During 18 October 2020 rail cranes were used to place the derailed unit 3105 back on the rails, with 3109 having survived without derailment. The diesel locomotive 214 006 remained in the field.


Description

The train type is divided into three classes: 3100, 3200 and 3300. The classes differ by their length and electric systems, with part of the 3300 class trains able to operate on the
NMBS/SNCB The National Railway Company of Belgium (, NMBS; , SNCB; ) is the national railway company of Belgium. The company formally styles itself using the Dutch and French abbreviations NMBS/SNCB. The corporate logo designed in 1936 by Henry van de V ...
Belgian railway network and part on the DB German railway network.


3300 series for Belgium

The 3300 series ICNGB train has eight carriages, containing a total of 410 seats. This version has an extra toilet and more luggage space. It is able to use the Belgian rail protection system and 3kV overhead lines. NS placed an additional order early on for two Coradia suitable for the Belgian rail network (ICNGB), because the train stock in use for the Amsterdam – Brussels connection is due for replacement in 2025. With that order, the intention was to test these two trainsets and to obtain approval for the Belgian rail network, after which a follow-up order could be placed. This covered the risk that the admission would expire. However, the first follow-up order for eighteen trains has already been placed, well before the first trains have entered service, so that from 2025, 20 units will be available for service to Belgium.


3300 series for Germany

The 3300 series ICNGD train has eight carriages, containing a total of 410 seats. This version has an extra toilet and more luggage space. It is able to use the
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
rail protection system and 15kV AC 16,7 Hz overhead lines.


Interior

The trains are equipped with a universal (wheelchair accessible) toilet and a special wheelchair space for two wheelchairs. The five-car train set is also equipped with one universal toilet, the eight-car train set with two standard toilets. The trains are also equipped with first and second class sections, which are divided into sections for "work", "silence" and "meet & greet". Extra luggage racks have been installed on the Belgian 33xx version for their international journeys. There are sockets and USB connections for charging a telephone or laptop in both the first and second class carriages. The usual NS onboard information screens and free WiFi are also available on the trains.


References


External links

{{Commons category High-speed trains of the Netherlands Electric multiple units of the Netherlands Alstom Coradia 25 kV AC multiple units 3000 V DC multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of the Netherlands Train-related introductions in 2023