It’s pretty funny this train among some Dutch rail enthusiasts is considered mid. Even tho I myself still adore the virms since when I first rode on them.
That is funny, but I think it's because of me not being native and having my standards screwed by what I have in the UK. Since I like the ICM, DDZ and the TRAXX ICRM sets, I could in a way call the VIRM the ""worst"" Intercity train in NL, but that feels wrong to say.
i mean ICMm supremacy is a thing in the dutch fandom i guess... i prefer the VIRM because i love the acceleration noise, the ICNG is kinda similar towards that too
Apologies for the 1+ month absense for non stream videos. Been a bit slow with sorting out some stuff for the new year. Also rewrites too. Still nice to review a Dutch train again before the end of the year. Also to though feeling a bit iffy with the intro joke, don't worry, from the reports I checked, nobody onboard was injured (though the driver was taken to hospital just in case) and the only casuality was the VDL Citea itself. A boxset of season 2 of Ongezellig is up for grabs for anyone who can guess the locations filmed at. The 3 door clips in a row don't count.
5:20 the maximum is actually 14, though is rarely/never used in passnger operation, due to the platform length. 6:35 max speed is already 160, but indeed the signalling system limits it to 140. (Some have a sticker with 140 in the drivers cabin, whilst most have 160. dont know why) 25kv is never happening, but ERTMS/ETCS will be retrofitted from what ive heard
Oh really? I never knew 14 was the maximum. The max I've ever seen was 12 (4+4+4 or 6+6) but I could believe 14 happening if on stock movmenents or on sections with long platforms. Also I have no idea how I messed up the wording to say "the top speed *of 160kph is gagged to 140"* instead of how it came out. Another hiccup strikes again. Also yeah I did hear about the ETCS retrofitting too.
@MaverickHunterDaniel with 4+4+6 it makes 14. But yeah this is only used to move stock around, and even then its rare. Not to mention that the catenary can only supply so much. Even with 10 cars it sometimes struggles. And not only does the ATB limit it to 140, there arent alot of routes where you can go 160, so in service it never reaches 160, atleast not until ERTMS/ECTS is retrofitted. As a train driver over here, i really like these trains. They have the perfect mix between analoge and computerized. Only downside is that it struggles with wheelspin when accelerating
@@stefannl_plays dat waggelen komt grotendeels door t baanvak, Achterstallig onderhoud aan de infra. Maar het is alleen bij de nieuwe flow uitvoering waar ik soms 140 zie op de sticker, wat vreemd is want voor de modernisering was het bij alle stellen gewoon 160. In de materieelgids staat ook 160. Bij ddz staat er bijvoorbeeld 140 of 110 in de gids
Thanks for the insight once again! Whilst I'm here, do you know what the maximum DDZ formation is, so I know when I can (hopefully) review it next year?
I love the VIRMs! Personally, I much prefer the lighting of the original interiors, but the refurbishment has definitely improved them overall. I will say, though, that them being double deck makes their low top speed feel very frustrating - you never quite feel like you’re going fast enough.
3:30 The mention of Class 320s in the clip just shows how the Glasgow area suffers with only being able to run 6 car trains let alone 8 or 12 down south.
Even since the 60s, Scotland has had to suffer with 3 and 6 car (and maybe 9 too) trains unlike the more standard 4, 8 and 12. Something somehting southern bias...
great video, as always never been to the netherlands but these do look like proper workhorses and the fact theyve been improved with each upgrade (instead of a lousy repaint and different, worse seats, looking at you northern sprinters) shows how much of a damn other countries give about their public transport system, we really should be following in the same stride as these lot
From my experience i find the flow interior to be the most comfortable. The seats on VIRMm1 are not tall enough for me to sit in comfortably since the headrest functions for as a shoulder rest 😂
@@MaverickHunterDaniel If you want to try the M7 and happen to be in Belgium, the line from Brussel to Tongeren for tomorrow (after that IDK since they are switching up the scedule) and you can ride the M7 locos on that 11 car train from Genk to Blankenberge
Try telling that to the people on the Welsh Marches line, with their 2 car trains that end up being so overcrowded that boarding the train can be impossible.
@ Depends imo. What are the options with a short train and what happens without a train. If the operator only ever gets in trouble for cancellation, you will get short trains. If you track complete trains, you’ll get cancellations. But if problems are rare, one short train is better than one canceled train. But if there’s passenger rights implications, the better option is a mess. I know that I‘ll take a train that’s short as an exception, I won’t take a train that’s plannably short…
@@genoobtlp4424 The solution is to do what Thameslink did with the 700 and have a fleet of trains that have a larger number of coaches than the ones previously so that short formations are pretty much impossible. Using the Welsh Marches again as an example, if the 197s running were all 5 car trains, then the whole 2 car Milford Haven - Man Pic. capacity issues would be a thing of the past.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel fair enough, there is a need for reasonably large trains (or reasonably undersized trains, that are not regularly operated at crush load), I forgot you‘re in Britain, where they run a two car sprinter with 3+2 airline seating where the platforms are way longer (blackpool north, my only experience with a thoroughly overloaded train in GB yet). I‘m used to the swiss approach of getting big enough trains by default, lest there is a pretty good reason (usually facing groups of 4, with which you‘re hopefully seating peak demand), so a short service usually has enough space at crush load. There are runs (Zürich - Bern at peak times) where they run overloaded (400m double decker with people standing in the aisles of first class for an hour), though they make an effort. Ideally, you’d have a modular train of EMUs you can freely swap, so if there’s a TEMPORARY shortage of equipment, you can swap units mid-run or tow a failed unit within the train. (Or put an S-Bahn train on an IC run, seen it yesterday, was a good idea). Anything but the scheduled capacity is bad, but not running at all is worse. If the customer has a reasonable chance to encounter an overloaded train, you‘re doing something wrong, but if it’s rare or you’re legitimately trying to fix the issue, it can work.
@5:03 The VIRM are NOT related to the DDZ in that sense, yes, they are both doubledeckers, but the DDZ units are the evelution of the mDDa, witch inturn are the evelution of the DDIR, The DDIR where locomotive+cabcar pushpull sets The VIRMm's are the evelution of the VIRM, wich are a inturn just extended IRM's, VIRM stands for "Verlengt InterRegio Materieel", Or in englis; "Lengted InterRegion Equipment", Just wanted to clear that up.
Yea mb, I rewinded it a couple times after, its VERY hard to hear, But I do hear DD-IRM, maybe try to split the letters cuz when that auto voice says DD-IRM it sounds way to much like DDIR
@l.l.p.jverhagen5666 No worries, the TTS is quite bad, but I like it being bad since it's at least not trying to be misleading like other AI voices used nowadays.
Ah, yes, the VIRM‘s… Personally, I’m not a fan of these, as they’re the only ones from NS that run to Heerlen/Maastricht. The Koplopers and DDZ‘ always seem to appear when I don’t have time, haha. Overall, they’re smooth trains to ride on, but still not my favorite. Nice video, though! Now we just need the DDZ - best trains ever!
@@einunnoetigerkanal Thanks! I can't wait to review the DDZ soon. My first filming attempt in 2021 was thwarted when they were taken out of service haha.
Nice video! Well I find the VIRMs okay… tho the refurbishment on them were…… mid I dislike the lighting in the refurbished sets because those have flashbangs….. My favourite Dutch Double Deckers are the now long gone DDM-1s. I miss them a lot
I miss the DDM-1s too. At least I managed to ride them a few times, including from Zwolle to Amersfoort. I love how stupidly fast the NS1700s are with them. When I review the DDZ, I'll be sure to mention them since I have some footage.
Bonus points when a pair of DDM-1s ran together. Stupidly overpowered but still cool. Here's to hoping I can review the DDZ (and possibly more NMBS stuff) in 2025 :)
I swear the Dutch are masters of creating long and unpronounceable train names... Until TfW comes along and names a train after Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
I never ever heard "de naald" or "de spookwagen"als bijnamen for the VIRM, the VIRM is the updated name of the DD-IRM and it's nickname is "de Bison". Did even some searching on my Dutch railfan sites but nope..no mentionings for either needle or spookwagen (at all, not just in relation to this train). I know you are limited by what the voice can do but the start of the video really is unintelligible for me. Agree on the livery, the newest doesn't really look good on the VIRM.
@@mavadelo_YukiToRedBull Ok I am really really sorry for confusing you at the beginning. Basically it was just a phonetic pronunciation based on a joke someone made to me In the past. Also I've never heard of the nicknames for the VIRM either, adding to the confusion. Apologies once again.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel I have had to work with those AI voices, I know how difficult they can be, don't worry mate :) The names just surprised me a bit. Most Dutch trains have a nickname. Some fun ones are "de Buffel/the Buffalo" for the DM'90, Hondekop/doghead for the Mat'54, Apekop/monkeyhead for the Mat'64, you know Koploper and the new ICNG is called de Wesp/the Wasp
It’s pretty funny this train among some Dutch rail enthusiasts is considered mid. Even tho I myself still adore the virms since when I first rode on them.
That is funny, but I think it's because of me not being native and having my standards screwed by what I have in the UK. Since I like the ICM, DDZ and the TRAXX ICRM sets, I could in a way call the VIRM the ""worst"" Intercity train in NL, but that feels wrong to say.
i mean ICMm supremacy is a thing in the dutch fandom i guess...
i prefer the VIRM because i love the acceleration noise, the ICNG is kinda similar towards that too
Apologies for the 1+ month absense for non stream videos. Been a bit slow with sorting out some stuff for the new year. Also rewrites too. Still nice to review a Dutch train again before the end of the year. Also to though feeling a bit iffy with the intro joke, don't worry, from the reports I checked, nobody onboard was injured (though the driver was taken to hospital just in case) and the only casuality was the VDL Citea itself.
A boxset of season 2 of Ongezellig is up for grabs for anyone who can guess the locations filmed at. The 3 door clips in a row don't count.
Nah, that's all good. Life happens, and at least you're alive. Lol! 😂
At 30 seconds its definetly in station Best
0:18 Amsterdam Centraal
0:29 Best
0:48 Roermond
1:16 Sassenheim
1:26 Hoofddorp
1:50 Zoetermeer
2:07 Pfaffenthal-Kirchberg
2:25 Quevy
2:31 Brussel Noord
3:31 Argyle Street
4:22 Schiedam Centrum
4:38 Chatalet? No clue m8
4:43 Schiphol Airport
4:52 Alkmaar
5:10 Den Haag Laan van Nieuw Oost Indie
5:20 Leiden Centraal
5:39 Almere Buiten (as apposed to Almere Binnen?)
5:53 Amsterdam RAI
6:03 De Vink (lol headlights on the rear of that VIRM)
6:16 Brussel Zuid
6:24 Deurne
6:50 Nieuw Vennep
7:08 Barendrecht
7:20 Dinting
7:33 Amsterdam Zuid
7:44 Weert
8:10 Maastricht
15:28 Sittard
15:51 Delft Campus
16:12 Geleen Oost
16:24 Schinnen
16:42 Zwolle
17:00 Beek-Elsloo
5:20 the maximum is actually 14, though is rarely/never used in passnger operation, due to the platform length.
6:35 max speed is already 160, but indeed the signalling system limits it to 140. (Some have a sticker with 140 in the drivers cabin, whilst most have 160. dont know why) 25kv is never happening, but ERTMS/ETCS will be retrofitted from what ive heard
Oh really? I never knew 14 was the maximum. The max I've ever seen was 12 (4+4+4 or 6+6) but I could believe 14 happening if on stock movmenents or on sections with long platforms. Also I have no idea how I messed up the wording to say "the top speed *of 160kph is gagged to 140"* instead of how it came out. Another hiccup strikes again. Also yeah I did hear about the ETCS retrofitting too.
@MaverickHunterDaniel with 4+4+6 it makes 14. But yeah this is only used to move stock around, and even then its rare. Not to mention that the catenary can only supply so much. Even with 10 cars it sometimes struggles.
And not only does the ATB limit it to 140, there arent alot of routes where you can go 160, so in service it never reaches 160, atleast not until ERTMS/ECTS is retrofitted.
As a train driver over here, i really like these trains. They have the perfect mix between analoge and computerized. Only downside is that it struggles with wheelspin when accelerating
@@stefannl_plays dat waggelen komt grotendeels door t baanvak, Achterstallig onderhoud aan de infra. Maar het is alleen bij de nieuwe flow uitvoering waar ik soms 140 zie op de sticker, wat vreemd is want voor de modernisering was het bij alle stellen gewoon 160. In de materieelgids staat ook 160. Bij ddz staat er bijvoorbeeld 140 of 110 in de gids
Thanks for the insight once again! Whilst I'm here, do you know what the maximum DDZ formation is, so I know when I can (hopefully) review it next year?
@@MaverickHunterDaniel I’ve had journeys with VIRM’s driving 160 when they had to catch up due to delays
4:05 As someone who is 5'10 and still bangs their head on the top deck, I agree with mocking the low height Streetdeck
I feel lucky to have avoided many logh height Streetdecks myself, though I'm only an inch off from you.
I love the VIRMs! Personally, I much prefer the lighting of the original interiors, but the refurbishment has definitely improved them overall. I will say, though, that them being double deck makes their low top speed feel very frustrating - you never quite feel like you’re going fast enough.
Yeah. Shame that The Netherlands can't handle faster track speeds, lest it sinks into the swamp.
3:30 The mention of Class 320s in the clip just shows how the Glasgow area suffers with only being able to run 6 car trains let alone 8 or 12 down south.
Even since the 60s, Scotland has had to suffer with 3 and 6 car (and maybe 9 too) trains unlike the more standard 4, 8 and 12. Something somehting southern bias...
great video, as always
never been to the netherlands but these do look like proper workhorses and the fact theyve been improved with each upgrade (instead of a lousy repaint and different, worse seats, looking at you northern sprinters) shows how much of a damn other countries give about their public transport system, we really should be following in the same stride as these lot
Agreed. We could start with having a ticketing system as good at the OV Chipkaart.
From my experience i find the flow interior to be the most comfortable. The seats on VIRMm1 are not tall enough for me to sit in comfortably since the headrest functions for as a shoulder rest 😂
That 11 car M6/M7 train in Belgium is really nice btw, it also runs not too far from where I live.
Agreed, though I haven't properly rode the M7 coaches myself. I like the M6s at least.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel If you want to try the M7 and happen to be in Belgium, the line from Brussel to Tongeren for tomorrow (after that IDK since they are switching up the scedule) and you can ride the M7 locos on that 11 car train from Genk to Blankenberge
It'll probably be sometime in 2025 before I can hop over to Belgium again, so by then the new timetable should be in force.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel Thats ok if I don't forget (I prob will) I can tell you if that train still runs with the M7
Wait, some of these trains are as old as me. We're both born in 1994 and still kicking.
Whatever you do, don't look up the age of the Belgian Classic Material trains still in use now...
@MaverickHunterDaniel What ?
@MaverickHunterDaniel Holy S!@T they are ancient.
@@az196823 Belgium is running trains that are 62 years old.
Better a short formed train than a non-formed train, but I see how the competence tracking factors in to that
Try telling that to the people on the Welsh Marches line, with their 2 car trains that end up being so overcrowded that boarding the train can be impossible.
@ Depends imo. What are the options with a short train and what happens without a train. If the operator only ever gets in trouble for cancellation, you will get short trains. If you track complete trains, you’ll get cancellations. But if problems are rare, one short train is better than one canceled train. But if there’s passenger rights implications, the better option is a mess.
I know that I‘ll take a train that’s short as an exception, I won’t take a train that’s plannably short…
@@genoobtlp4424 The solution is to do what Thameslink did with the 700 and have a fleet of trains that have a larger number of coaches than the ones previously so that short formations are pretty much impossible. Using the Welsh Marches again as an example, if the 197s running were all 5 car trains, then the whole 2 car Milford Haven - Man Pic. capacity issues would be a thing of the past.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel fair enough, there is a need for reasonably large trains (or reasonably undersized trains, that are not regularly operated at crush load), I forgot you‘re in Britain, where they run a two car sprinter with 3+2 airline seating where the platforms are way longer (blackpool north, my only experience with a thoroughly overloaded train in GB yet).
I‘m used to the swiss approach of getting big enough trains by default, lest there is a pretty good reason (usually facing groups of 4, with which you‘re hopefully seating peak demand), so a short service usually has enough space at crush load. There are runs (Zürich - Bern at peak times) where they run overloaded (400m double decker with people standing in the aisles of first class for an hour), though they make an effort.
Ideally, you’d have a modular train of EMUs you can freely swap, so if there’s a TEMPORARY shortage of equipment, you can swap units mid-run or tow a failed unit within the train. (Or put an S-Bahn train on an IC run, seen it yesterday, was a good idea). Anything but the scheduled capacity is bad, but not running at all is worse.
If the customer has a reasonable chance to encounter an overloaded train, you‘re doing something wrong, but if it’s rare or you’re legitimately trying to fix the issue, it can work.
@5:03 The VIRM are NOT related to the DDZ in that sense, yes, they are both doubledeckers, but the DDZ units are the evelution of the mDDa, witch inturn are the evelution of the DDIR, The DDIR where locomotive+cabcar pushpull sets
The VIRMm's are the evelution of the VIRM, wich are a inturn just extended IRM's, VIRM stands for "Verlengt InterRegio Materieel",
Or in englis; "Lengted InterRegion Equipment", Just wanted to clear that up.
I feel like you either put in the wrong timecode or you misunderstood what I said, since I didn't say anything like that there.
Yea mb, I rewinded it a couple times after, its VERY hard to hear, But I do hear DD-IRM, maybe try to split the letters cuz when that auto voice says DD-IRM it sounds way to much like DDIR
@l.l.p.jverhagen5666 No worries, the TTS is quite bad, but I like it being bad since it's at least not trying to be misleading like other AI voices used nowadays.
15:40 Bro why! 😭😭😭
Just because I know you have a review to DTG's Class 432 pack coming up ;)
Allow yawwie man 😂, seriously Great review as as always, only came across your channel this year bur absolutely loving it, keep up the good work 👏
Many thanks :)
1:06 DELFT MENTIONED WOOOO what is a tram line to the university (it's 17 years delayed and still not running)
I would say I'm shocked, but considering how long it's taken for your new tunnel to open... :D
RR on one of my favourite units :3
Instant like
Haven't seen you for a while. Welcome back.
4:07 It will be sent to the shadow realm with the class 43
I see these all the time running through my town, they used to run DDZs and ICMs but VIRMs wiped them out
"All your Intercity are belong to us." - NS VIRMm
@ yes lmao😭
Ah, yes, the VIRM‘s… Personally, I’m not a fan of these, as they’re the only ones from NS that run to Heerlen/Maastricht. The Koplopers and DDZ‘ always seem to appear when I don’t have time, haha. Overall, they’re smooth trains to ride on, but still not my favorite.
Nice video, though! Now we just need the DDZ - best trains ever!
@@einunnoetigerkanal Thanks! I can't wait to review the DDZ soon. My first filming attempt in 2021 was thwarted when they were taken out of service haha.
@ Haha, better be quick before CAF comes around the corner with the DDNG xD.
@@einunnoetigerkanal CAF is not my favorite 🤢🤢
Nice video! Well I find the VIRMs okay… tho the refurbishment on them were…… mid I dislike the lighting in the refurbished sets because those have flashbangs….. My favourite Dutch Double Deckers are the now long gone DDM-1s. I miss them a lot
I miss the DDM-1s too. At least I managed to ride them a few times, including from Zwolle to Amersfoort. I love how stupidly fast the NS1700s are with them. When I review the DDZ, I'll be sure to mention them since I have some footage.
@ Those could accelerate very fast indeed with the 1700 this is because they could be used as a Sprinter too which was quite clever
Bonus points when a pair of DDM-1s ran together. Stupidly overpowered but still cool. Here's to hoping I can review the DDZ (and possibly more NMBS stuff) in 2025 :)
@@MaverickHunterDaniel ooooo seems very nice if you can!
@@Je_Existe You can help with filming some extra M4s too if you'd like ;)
I swear the Dutch are masters of creating long and unpronounceable train names... Until TfW comes along and names a train after Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
removed herobrine is wild
HEERLEN MENTOINEDD WOOO
Yep, Germany has been mentioned ;)
0:06 Top 5 saddest anime deaths in Nederland:
Yeah, RIP that VDL Citea XLE-137.
I never ever heard "de naald" or "de spookwagen"als bijnamen for the VIRM, the VIRM is the updated name of the DD-IRM and it's nickname is "de Bison". Did even some searching on my Dutch railfan sites but nope..no mentionings for either needle or spookwagen (at all, not just in relation to this train). I know you are limited by what the voice can do but the start of the video really is unintelligible for me.
Agree on the livery, the newest doesn't really look good on the VIRM.
@@mavadelo_YukiToRedBull Ok I am really really sorry for confusing you at the beginning. Basically it was just a phonetic pronunciation based on a joke someone made to me In the past.
Also I've never heard of the nicknames for the VIRM either, adding to the confusion. Apologies once again.
@@MaverickHunterDaniel I have had to work with those AI voices, I know how difficult they can be, don't worry mate :)
The names just surprised me a bit. Most Dutch trains have a nickname. Some fun ones are "de Buffel/the Buffalo" for the DM'90, Hondekop/doghead for the Mat'54, Apekop/monkeyhead for the Mat'64, you know Koploper and the new ICNG is called de Wesp/the Wasp
MY COUNTRY!!!!!!111!1!1
The slightly mediocre version of yawwie is here
If I'm the discount Yawwie, I guess that would make you the charity shop version then.
@aww come on I was joking but nice one
@@MaverickHunterDaniel Craigslist