Trains running between Amsterdam and Brussels will become half an hour faster, according to the International Railway Journal.
InterCity trains connecting the Dutch and Belgian capitals now take 2 hours 53 minutes instead of the previous 3 hours 23 minutes. The time savings for this European journey were achieved by changing the route. Firstly, the locomotives now use part of the high-speed Benelux line, and secondly, they do not stop in The Hague.
The hourly train route is as follows: Amsterdam Central Station – Rotterdam – Breda – Brecht – Antwerp – Brussels-South Station. Some trains also stop at Schiphol Airport and Brussels National Airport.
According to the publication, InterCity trains on the Amsterdam-Brussels route are an excellent alternative to Thalys high-speed trains. This is primarily due to their price. While a standard-class Thalys ticket costs €68, an InterCity train ticket costs only €26. Keep in mind that prices may vary during peak hours and when booking at the last minute before departure. The high-speed train takes 1 hour 51 minutes to complete the entire journey, traveling at 300 km/h. A standard train travels at around 140 km/h.
It's worth noting that the distance between Amsterdam and Brussels is approximately 210 kilometers. The journey, with four stops, takes 2 hours and 53 minutes. Russian trains cover the same distance between Moscow and Rostov the Great in 3 hours and 15 minutes, making two stops.
Source: news.turizm.ru