Erasmus (train)

Erasmus

Vista-dome car (ADm), interior
Overview
Service type Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1973–1980)
InterCity (IC)
(1980–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–2000)
Status Discontinued
Locale Netherlands
Germany
Austria
First service 3 June 1973 (1973-06-03)
Last service 2 November 2000 (2000-11-02)
Successor ICE
Former operator(s) Deutsche Bundesbahn
Route
Start The Hague
End München
Distance travelled 915 km
Service frequency Daily
On-board services
Observation facilities ADm vista-dome
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 1500 V DC (Netherlands)
15 kV 16,7 Hz (Germany & Austria)

The Erasmus was an express train that linked The Hague, the Dutch seat of Government, with Munich in Germany. The train was named after the Dutch Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus.[1]

Trans Europ Express

The Erasmus was launched on 3 June 1973 on request of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen in order to provide a direct TEE-service between The Hague and Germany.[2] The Deutsche Bundesbahn wanted to have an extra TEE service linking Cologne and Munich using the same intinary as the former TEE Rheinpfeil.[3] Although the Rheinpfeil was downgraded already in 1971 a time consuming exchange of coaches, including vista-domes, with the TEE Rheingold in Duisburg was upheld until May 1973.[4] The new TEE Erasmus was scheduled to have timed connections with the TEE Prinz Eugen in both directions in Würzburg.[5] The Rheinpfeil was rerouted to Basel instead of Munich and there were no exchanges of coaches in Duisburg any more. However the maintenance of the ADm vista-dome cars had to take place in the DB-works in Münich, which was not on the Rheingold's route at that time. In order to include the regular maintenance in the normal operation the Erasmus got vista-dome cars as well. The formations of TEE Rheingold and TEE Erasmus changed places, Hook of Holland and The Hague, during the night so every vista-dome car could be serviced in Münich every 5 days.[6] Initially the service started in The Hague HS (Holland Station) on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam railway, using a connection track to the Hague - Utrecht - Germany railway to go eastbound.[7] After the completing of The Hague Central Station, the Western terminus of the Hague-Utrecht-Germany railway, on 30 May 1976 the Western terminus changed to Central station instead of Holland Station, thus abandoning the connection track.[8] The Vista-dome cars were withdrawn from service in all trains and replaced by class ARD (bar/business) coaches.[9]

Second Class

In September 1980 the Dutch terminus was altered to Amsterdam and the southern terminus to Innsbruck in Austria. The Erasmus continued as InterCity service until 30 May 1987. On 31 May 1987 the Erasmus was part of the initial EuroCity services. On 2 June 1991 the route was shortened to Amsterdam - Cologne and eventually replaced by ICE services on 3 November 2000.[10]

References

  1. ↑ La Légende des TEE p. 334.
  2. ↑ TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 125.
  3. ↑ La Légende des TEE p. 335.
  4. ↑ Das grosse TEE Buch p. 82
  5. ↑ La Légende des TEE p. 336.
  6. ↑ TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 125.
  7. ↑ Das grosse TEE Buch p. 87
  8. ↑ La Légende des TEE p. 335.
  9. ↑ TEE Züge in Deutschland p. 126.
  10. ↑ La Légende des TEE p. 337.

Works cited

  • Hajt, Jörg (2001). Das grosse TEE Buch (in German). Bonn/Königswinter: Heel Verlag. ISBN 3-89365-948-X. 
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre (2007). La Légende des Trans Europ Express (in French). Vannes: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-036514-5-9. 
  • Goette, Peter (2008). TEE-Züge in Deutschland (in German). Freiburg: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-698-8. 
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