Fyra

Fyra
A V250 at Innotrans 2008 in Berlin
Franchise(s)International joint operation
Service began in 2009
Main station(s)Amsterdam Centraal,
Schiphol Airport,
Rotterdam Centraal,
Breda,
Antwerpen-Centraal,
Brussel-Centraal
Brussel-Zuid/Bruxelles-Midi
Fleet size19 V250 sets (AnsaldoBreda)
NS Hispeed class 186
Stations called at10 V250 (expected)
Parent companyNS International and NMBS/SNCB
Other
Websitewww.nsinternational.nl
Fyra route map
Legend
0:00
 Amsterdam Centraal enlarge…
0:13
 Schiphol Airport enlarge…
0:41
 Rotterdam Centraal enlarge…
1:07
 Breda
Netherlands-Belgium border
1:22
Antwerpen-Centraal
1:57
Brussels-Central
2:01
Brussels-South

Fyra (Dutch: [ˈfiːraː]) was an 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, Antwerp and Brussels.[1] Continuous technical difficulties suspended the service, and it was eventually permanently halted due to reliability and safety concerns.

The high-profile project was a collaboration between NS International (a joint venture of NS and KLM) and NMBS/SNCB.

A Dutch domestic service also using HSL-Zuid was branded under the same name. Despite using the tracks built for high speed trains the service between Amsterdam and Breda used conventional trains propelled by a TRAXX locomotive. Its name was changed into Intercity Direct to avoid confusion with the failed international service.

The name "Fyra" represents pride, and is derived from the Dutch word fier and the French word fière, both meaning proud. Fyra is also the Swedish word for four, and is said to represent the four important cities which the new trains were intended to serve — Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference rgi20090707 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Albatros to Fyra for Benelux high speed service". Today's Railways Europe. September 2009. p. 6.