NS Sprinter Lighttrain

• Sprinter Lighttrain
• Sprinter
• SLT
• S70 or S100

2607 arriving at Amsterdam Amstel.

The SLT is designed to replace the Mat '64 trains from the 1960s and 1970s. 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 made to meet the demands of the Sprinter. They use Jacobs bogie, which allow for thin and wide gangways between each coach. The units were built in Aachen (2400) and Krefeld (2600).

From 2018 onwards, all units are becoming toilets and a special sliding step for wheelchair users. The toilet build in happens at the Talbot work in [Aachen], once in a time there go 2 units to it. The expectations are that these modernisations will be completed in 2021. In 2018 all units became a new model of seats were the new seats are made from leather!

The SLT is primarily for the Randstad area, around the four main cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam). They are used on 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 lack a toilet.

Problems occurred, especially when 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 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 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.[1][2]

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

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.[3]
• On 21 April 2012, unit 2658 was one of the two trains involved in a head-on collision near Amsterdam Sloterdijk station.

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