- NS VIRM
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NS Class 8600/8700/9400/9500 
VIRM unit at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA
The interior of a VIRM train.In service 1994 - present Manufacturer De Dietrich Ferroviaire Number built 178 Formation 6 cars (8600/8700)
4 cars (9400/9500)Capacity 8600/8700 - 129 (1st), 442 (2nd)
9400/9500 - 61 (1st), 330 (2nd)Operator NS Reizigers Specifications Maximum speed 160 km/h (99 mph) Power output 2388 kW (8600/8700)
1592 kW (9400/9500)Electric system(s) 1.5 kV DC; all units are fitted to operate on 25 kV AC Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge The NS DD-IRM, full name Dubbeldeksinterregiomaterieel, Electric Multiple Units (EMU's) trains were built by De Dietrich or Talbot between 1994 and 2009. They operate in the Netherlands and are operated by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Contents
Names
- VIRM
- DD-IRM
- Regiorunner
- Dubbeldeksinterregiomaterieel
First generation
The first generation of DD-IRM were delivered from 1994 to 1996 as three and four car units. The three car units were delivered in the 82xx class and the four car units delivered as 84xx. The first batch of 290 double deck coaches (individual) were delivered. The first 47 were built by De Dietrich and from then on by Talbot.
As the coaches were individual but would run as a unit, they are individually numbered. Collectively they have a set number e.g. 8201, having coach number 380 8001. However there are no double numbers, for example there can not be an 8201 and 8401 at the same time.
In 2000 an order was placed for new coaches. The 3 car sets were to be upgraded to 4 car sets, and the four car sets upgraded to 6 car sets. This is why they are now called VIRM (V = verlengd - extended). These were renumbered into the 94xx series and the 86xx series. These sets were formed between 2001 and 2005.
Second generation
The second generation of VIRM were new sets built to the 4 and 6 coach formations, at the same time as the first generation were rebuilt. These were numbered 95xx (4 car units) and 87xx (6 car units). These sets featured different seats, which were also in the new coaches placed inside the first generation sets.
Third generation
These sets were delivered from June 2008 and these are all 4 car units. They are numbered 9547 - 9596. These sets differ in that they do not feature the catering lift, meaning the stairs could be wider and the destination screens inside the coaches have disappeared, where in the future screens with more information will be put in place.
Numbering
vehicle type DD-IRM
1994–96VIRM-1
2002–VIRM-2
2002–VIRM-3
–2005VIRM-4
2008–09Short Trainsets
Long Trainsets8201...8281 (34)
8401...8481 (47)9401...9481 (34)
8601...8681 (47)9502...9525 (13)
8701...8723 (12)-
8726–8746 (21)9547–9597 (51)
-mBvk1/2 290 8501–8662 (162) 8663–8712 (50) 8713–8754 (42) 8759–8861 (103) ABv3/4 380 8001–8081 (81) 8101–8125 (25) 8126–8146 (21) 8147–8197 (51) ABv5 380 8201–8247 (47) 8248–8259 (12) 8260–8280 (21) ABv6 380 8301–8381 (81) 8382–8406 (25) 8407–8427 (21) 8428–8478 (51) mBv7 260 8801–8847 (47) 8848–8859 (12) 8860–8880 (21) - 34 trainsets in 9401–9481, no double numbering with 47 trainsets in 8601–8681
- 12 trainsets 8701...8723 only odd numbers[1] plus 13 trainsets 9502...9525 remaining numbers
- mBvk1/2 8755–8758 are reserve carbodies, 8755 has become replacement 8718
- mBvk1/2 8829 was built as a replacement vehicle for an older trainset
Differt liveries
- 8733 - This featured adverts between the two decks, advertising that it was the 300th VIRM set built. Livery no longer carried.
- 9514 - This carries adverts for Lekker lezen in de trein, it's nice to read in the train.
- 9520 and 9525 - These wear the adverts for the NS/Olympic partnership.
- 9522 - This carries a white/magenta livery advertising the OV-Chipkaart.
- 9524 - This were advertising liveries for Mamma Mia and The Lion King. Nowadays carries a completely white/magenta livery, advertising the OV-chipkaart.
Services operated
The VIRM is now the main intercity train and can bee seen across most of the NS network.
Series Train type Route Material Notes 500 Intercity Den Haag Centraal/Rotterdam Centraal - Gouda - Utrecht Central - Amersfoort - Zwolle - Leeuwarden/Groningen VIRM / ICM Train services split / join at Utrecht Centraal and Zwolle; Leeuwarden service is a stoptrain from Zwolle to Leeuwarden; service operates as Den Haag - Groningen and Rotterdam - Leeuwarden; Groningen service stops only at Assen 800 Intercity Alkmaar - Heiloo - Castricum - Zaandam - Amsterdam Sloterdijk - Amsterdam Centraal - Amsterdam Amstel - Utrecht Centraal – 's-Hertogenbosch - Eindhoven - Weert - Roermond - Sittard - Maastricht / Heerlen VIRM Train service split / join at Sittard; evenings and weekends only Amsterdam Centraal - Maastricht / Heerlen 1400 Nachtnet Eindhoven - Tilburg - Breda - Dordrecht - Rotterdam Centraal - Delft - Den Haag HS - Leiden Centraal - Schiphol - Amsterdam Centraal - Utrecht Centraal - 's-Hertogenbosch - Eindhoven VIRM / ICM Eindhoven - Rotterdam Centraal / Utrecht Centraal only Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights 1500 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal - Hilversum - Amersfoort - Amersfoort Schothorst VIRM Linked to series 4500 1900 Intercity Den Haag Centraal - Den Haag HS - Delft - Rotterdam Centraal - Dordrecht - Breda - Tilburg - Eindhoven - Helmond - Deurne - Horst-Sevenum - Blerick - Venlo VIRM / ICM / ICRm 2000 Intercity Den Haag Centraal - Gouda - Utrecht Centraal VIRM / ICM 2100 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal - Schiphol - Leiden Centraal - Den Haag HS - Rotterdam Centraal - Dordrecht (- Roosendaal - Bergen op Zoom - Kruiningen-Yerseke - Goes - Middelburg - Vlissingen Souburg - Vlissingen) VIRM Only hourly service between Dordrecht - Vlissingen 2200 Sneltrein Amsterdam Centraal - Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Haarlem - Heemstede-Aerdenhout - Leiden Centraal - Den Haag Laan van NOI – Den Haag HS - Delft - Schiedam Centrum - Rotterdam Centraal - Rotterdam Blaak - Rotterdam Lombardijen - Dordrecht (– Dordrecht Zuid - Lage Zwaluwe - Breda-Prinsenbeek - Breda) VIRM / DD-AR During off-peak hours only hourly service between Dordrecht - Breda 2600 Sneltrein Amsterdam Centraal - Amsterdam Sloterdijk - Amsterdam Lelylaan - Schiphol - Leiden Centraal - Den Haag Centraal VIRM 2800 Intercity Rotterdam Centraal - Rotterdam Alexander - Gouda - Utrecht Centraal - Amersfoort (- Apeldoorn - Deventer) VIRM Extends to Apeldoorn and Deventer only during peak hours 3000 Intercity Den Helder - Den Helder Zuid - Anna Paulowna - Schagen – Heerhugowaard - Alkmaar Noord - Alkmaar - Castricum - Zaandam - Amsterdam Sloterdijk - Amsterdam Centraal - Amsterdam Amstel - Utrecht Centraal - Ede-Wageningen - Arnhem - Nijmegen VIRM Stops at Driebergen-Zeist after 8pm and on Sundays 3100 Intercity Schiphol - Amsterdam Zuid - Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA - Utrecht Centraal - Driebergen-Zeist - Ede-Wageningen - Arnhem - Nijmegen VIRM Not in the evening hours 3400 Sneltrein Hoorn - Obdam - Heerhugowaard - Alkmaar Noord - Alkmaar - Heiloo - Castricum - Uitgeest - Beverwijk - Haarlem (- Heemstede-Aerdenhout - Leiden Centraal - Den Haag Laan van NOI - Den Haag Centraal) VIRM / DD-AR During weekends only Hoorn - Haarlem 3500 Intercity Schiphol - Amsterdam Zuid - Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA - Utrecht Centraal - 's-Hertogenbosch - Eindhoven VIRM / ICRm During peaks hours to Maastricht. During evening hours only Schiphol - Utrecht Centraal 3600 Intercity Zwolle - Wijhe - Olst - Deventer - Zutphen - Dieren - Arnhem - Arnhem Zuid - Elst - Nijmegen Lent - Nijmegen - Oss - 's-Hertogenbosch - Tilburg - Breda - Etten-Leur - Roosendaal VIRM / ICM / ICRm 4500 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Sloterdijk - Hoorn - Hoorn Kersenboogerd - Hoogkarspel - Bovenkarspel-Grootebroek - Bovenkarspel Flora - Enkhuizen VIRM 8800 Intercity Leiden Centraal - Leiden Lammenschans - Alphen a/d Rijn - Bodegraven - Woerden - Utrecht Centraal railway station VIRM / ICM 10500 Intercity Zwolle - Steenwijk - Heerenveen - Leeuwarden VIRM / ICM Part of the 500 series 14500 Intercity Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Sloterdijk - Hoorn - Hoorn Kersenboogerd - Hoogkarspel - Bovenkarspel-Grootebroek - Bovenkarspel Flora - Enkhuizen VIRM / DD-AR Only during peak hours 20500 Intercity Rotterdam Centraal - Rotterdam Alexander - Gouda - Utrecht Centraal VIRM / ICM During peak hours part of 500 series 20800 Intercity Heerlen - Sittard VIRM Part of 800 series 21400 Nachtnet Eindhoven - 's-Hertogenbosch - Utrecht Centraal; Rotterdam Centraal - Dordrecht - Breda - Tilburg - Eindhoven VIRM / SGMm Only during nights following Friday and Saturday Gallery
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An original VIRM at Amsterdam Centraal
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9553 at Eindhoven
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9520 and 9525 in the Olympic livery
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Interior of original VIRM's (2nd Class)
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Interior of original VIRM's (1st Class)
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Interior of Third Generation VIRM's (2nd Class)
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Interior of Third Generation VIRM's (1st Class)
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Balcony area of First and Second Generation VIRM's (Note Catering Lift in the middle)
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Balcony area of Third Generation VIRM's (Note wider stairs)
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Map showing where VIRM can be seen most commonly in the 2009/10 timetable.
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External links
Train types in the Netherlands Diesel Multiple Units (DMU) DM'90 (Buffel) • Lint 41/H • GTW (Spurt / Velios)Electric Multiple Units (EMU) Mat '64 (Plan T / V) • SGM (Sprinter) • ICM (Koploper) • DD-AR • (V)IRM • Thalys PBA / PBKA • ICE 3M • Protos • GTW (Spurt / Velios) • SLT • V250Categories:- Rolling stock of the Netherlands
- Waggonfabrik Talbot
- De Dietrich Ferroviaire
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