Ticket to Ride: Railways of the South Netherlands (2005)
1h 15min
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- Synopsis:
The Netherlands has a railway system that is probably the most de-regulated in continental Europe. The yellow and blue is giving way to a railway of many colours. Just now you can see both. 'French style' electrics hauling InterCity coaches, double deck 'Bison' and the remarkable Koplopers with the driver's cab above the coach level are all classics on this incredibly dense network. They are now joined by the new breed of open access operators who run freight trains with modern American 'class 66s' or classic locomotives extinct elsewhere, like another US inspired machine - the class 1200. The journey begins in the far south west at Flushing, a port with English connections, and continues through Roosendaal to Dordrecht, one of the busiest multi-use railway lines in Europe. International Thalys passenger trains, plus the older Benelux sets share the route with domestic Inter Cities, and freight bound for Germany,Belgium or France. 5,000 ton ore trains hauled by triplets of RAILION class 64's and venerable Belgian class 25's contrast with the new 'Americans'. The railways in and around Rotterdam are examined, including the modern metro system. The journey continues by tram to Den Haag from Delft to admire the classic HS station before moving on to the remarkable new town of Zoetermeer. The journey concludes in Utrecht with another international connection: the ICE3M that runs five times a day direct to Frankfurt in Germany. The film includes a cab-ride in a container crane at Europort, aerial footage of Kijfhoek, locomotive views from Shortlines and much more. It is narrated by Phyllis Watts. - Genres:
- Children & Family, Documentary, Special Interest