Sprinter Lighttrain

The Sprinter Lighttrain or SLT is an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train type operated by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen in the Netherlands. They were built from 2007 to 2012 by Bombardier (2400) and Siemens (2600). It is the successor of the Sprinter SGM train type.

NS Sprinter Lighttrain (SLT) – Class 2400 / 2600
NS2463 at 't Harde
Second class interior
In service	2009–present
Manufacturer	Bombardier (2400) Siemens (2600)
Built at	Aachen and Hennigsdorf (2400) Uerdingen (2600)
Replaced	Mat '64, NS DD-AR
Constructed	2007–2012
Refurbished	Talbot (2018–2021)
Number built	69 (2400) 62 (2600)
Formation	4: mABk + mB + B + mABk (2400) mABk + mB + AB + B + mB + mABk (2600)
Fleet numbers	2401–2469, 2601–2662
Capacity	40 1st class, 176 2nd class (2400) 56 1st class, 266 2nd class (2600)
Operators	NS Reizigers
Specifications
Train length	69.36 m (227 ft 6+3⁄4 in) (2400) 100.54 m (329 ft 10+1⁄4 in) (2600)
Width	2.84 m (9 ft 3+3⁄4 in)
Height	4.21 m (13 ft 9+3⁄4 in)
Floor height	1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Entry	850 mm (2 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Doors	12 (2400) 20 (2600)
Articulated sections	4 (2400) 6 (2600)
Wheel diameter	850 mm (2 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Maximum speed	Service: 140 km/h (90 mph) Design: 160 km/h (100 mph)
Weight	129 t (127 long tons; 142 short tons) (2400) 176 t (173 long tons; 194 short tons) (2600)
Axle load	18.5 t (18.2 long tons; 20.4 short tons)
Power output	1,260 kW (1,690 hp) (2400) 1,680 kW (2,253 hp) (2600)
Electric system(s)	1.5 kV DC Catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	ATB-EG, ERTMS
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Names

• Sprinter Lighttrain
• Sprinter
• SLT
• S70 or S100

General information

2607 arriving at Amsterdam Amstel.

The SLT is designed to replace the Mat '64 trains from the 1960s and 1970s, and to allow the double-decker NS DD-AR carriages from the 1990s to be refurbished/converted into self-propelling EMUs and transferred to longer, skip-stop Intercity services. The first 35 sets were ordered in 2005 and the first set, 2402 arrived in January 2008. The second set, 2602 arrived in February 2008 and both were used on test runs. In September 2007 NS ordered a further 64 sets, and these started arriving in the Netherlands in mid-2009. In 2009 a further 32 were ordered. The trains use regenerative braking, which can feed energy back into the contact wire when they brake.

The trains are based on the DB Class 425 design, but adapted to meet the demands of the Sprinter. They use Jacobs bogies, which allow for thin and wide gangways between each coach. The units were built in Aachen and Hennigsdorf (2400) and Uerdingen (2600).

The SLT trains are fitted with the ATB-EG train protection system used on the electrified Dutch network, as well as the European-standard ERTMS system that is planned to replace ATB-EG. The SLT trains are also fitted with GSM-R train radios.

Modernisation

From 2018 onwards, all units are being retrofitted with on-board toilets and a special sliding step for wheelchair users, in response to the need to provide on-board toilets on all trains running on the hoofdrailnet as stipulated in the contract for NS to operate the 2015–25 concession. The toilet retrofit is conducted at the Talbot Services GmbH workshops in Aachen; of which 2 units are in the workshops at any one time. The expectations are that these modernisations will be completed in 2021.

Use of Sprinter Lighttrains

The SLT is primarily for the Randstad area, around the four main cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam). They are used on stoptrein stopping services, designed for routes where stations are close together and for this they feature many wide doors and fast acceleration.

After many test runs without passengers, they were put into service on 23 February 2009 between Den Haag Centraal – Gouda – Utrecht Centraal, two months later than planned. Passengers were happy with the comfort, no step between the train and the platform and the fresh interior, however the trains back then lacked on-board toilets.

Problems occurred, especially when there was a four-car and a six-car unit coupled together, so the test was stopped temporarily on 1 May 2009. The test started again on 21 September 2009, outside of the peak hours. Again there were problems, and the delivery of sets was stopped for the time being.

With the December 2009 timetable change, sets were put in again between Utrecht and Den Haag, as well as between Gouda and Rotterdam. In February 2010, the delivery of new sets was restarted, with four sets arriving each week. In May 2010 SLT sets also began operating between Rotterdam Centraal and Hoek van Holland Strand and on 24 May 2010 also between Utrecht Centraal and Baarn via Soest.

In December 2010 more than 2/3 of the SLT's failed after snowfall, leaving the NS to revert to the old trains that had recently been stored out of services.

Services operated

The SLT's are regularly used on these services in the current timetable (2017). They can sometimes appear on other services.

Series	Train Type	Route	Material	Notes
4000	Sprinter	Uitgeest – Zaandam – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Amstel – Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA – Breukelen – Gouda – Rotterdam Alexander – Rotterdam Centraal	SLT
4300		Hoofddorp – Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam Zuid – Duivendrecht – Weesp – Almere Centrum – Almere Oostvaarders
4600		Den Haag Centraal – Den Haag Laan van NOI – Leiden Centraal – Hoofddorp – Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal	SLT, SNG	This train continues as 14600 to Zwolle
4900		Utrecht Centraal – Utrecht Overvecht – Hilversum – Naarden-Bussum – Almere Centrum	SLT	This train stops only towards Utrecht Centraal in Utrecht Overvecht. At Sundays, this train drives is only 1 train per hour. This train drives until 8:00 pm
5700		Hoofddorp – Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam Zuid – Duivendrecht – Weesp – Naarden-Bussum – Hilversum – Utrecht Overvecht – Utrecht Centraal		This train drives until 8:00 pm
5800		Hoofddorp – Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal		This train continues as 15800 to Amersfoort Vathorst
6000		Utrecht Centraal – Houten – Geldermalsen – Tiel		This train continues as 6100 to Woerden at Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
6100		Woerden – Utrecht Centraal		This train drives only at weekdays until 8:00 pm and continues as 6000 to Woerden, but not at Wednesdays.
6800		Den Haag Centraal – Zoetermeer – Gouda – Gouda Goverwelle		This train drives only at weekdays until 8:00 pm
6900		Utrecht Centraal – Houten – Geldermalsen – 's-Hertogenbosch		This train drives only 1 train per hour between Geldermalsen and 's-Hertogenbosch, after 10:00 pm. This train continues as 7800 to Den Haag Centraal
7300		Breukelen – Utrecht Centraal – Veenendaal Centrum	SLT, SGMm
7400		Uitgeest – Zaandam – Amsterdam Sloterdijk – Amsterdam Centraal – Amsterdam Amstel – Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA - Breukelen – Utrecht Centraal – Driebergen-Zeist – Rhenen	SLT, SGM
7800		Den Haag Centraal – Zoetermeer – Gouda – Woerden – Utrecht Centraal	SLT	This train continues as 6900 to 's-Hertogenbosch
8800	Intercity	Leiden Centraal – Leiden Lammenschans – Alphen aan den Rijn – Bodegraven – Woerden – Utrecht Centraal	SLT
14600	Sprinter	Amsterdam Centraal – Weesp – Almere Centrum – Almere Oostvaarders – Lelystad Centrum – Zwolle	SLT,SNG	This train continues as 4600 to Den Haag Centraal.
14900		Utrecht Centraal – Utrecht Overvecht – Hilversum – Naarden-Bussum – Almere Centrum	SLT	This train only drives after 8:00 pm and drives only 1 time per hour between Hilversum and Almere Centrum.
15600		Amersfoort Centraal – Nijkerk – Harderwijk		This train stops only on Amersfoort Centraal, Nijkerk and Harderwijk
15800		Amsterdam Centraal – Weesp – Naarden-Bussum – Hilversum – Amersfoort – Amersfoort Vathorst		This train continues as 5800 to Hoofddorp.

Accidents and incidents

2012 collision involving an NS Sprinter Lighttrain unit (left)

• On 28 November 2011, a Sprinter collided with a stationary Sprinter at Leiden Centraal. Three passengers were injured.
• On 21 April 2012, unit 2658 was one of the two trains involved in a head-on collision near Amsterdam Sloterdijk station.

Gallery

• 
  1st Class seating
• 
  2nd Class seating
• 
  2nd Class seating
• 
  Cab View
• 
  Display Screens on SLT
• 
  Balcony area of 2nd Class seats
• 
  On-board toilet unit of SLT 2424
• 
  Inside the toilet
• 
  SLT and original Sprinter together at Amersfoort
• 
  SLT 2401 in service at Schiedam Centrum
• 
  Two SLT multiple units at Baarn railway station