NEDTRAIN’S Haarlem works is currently refurbishing 257 inter-city coaches built for NS by Talbot (now Bombardier) at Aachen in the 1980s. A batch of 22 second class BKD inter-city coaches will be rebuilt as driving trailers, with the former kitchen and van area replaced by a new cab with an Alstom driving console. Following the rebuild, each vehicle will have seating for 52 passengers.
Rebuilding of each carriage takes around three months, and the first vehicle to be completed was delivered to NS for testing and staff training in March. A further 10 coaches are scheduled for delivery this year, with the rest following in 2004. Five will be used on Zwolle - Roosendaal services from September, reducing the need for run-round facilities and improving punctuality.
- Ambitious plans for the redevelopment of Rotterdam Centraal station have been scaled back by NS and the city authorities, who have now jointly agreed a €409m design for completion by 2010.
