Amersfoort railway station
Encyclopedia
Amersfoort railway station is the main railway station in Amersfoort
, Utrecht
, the Netherlands
. The station is an important link between the central part of the Netherlands and the north and east of the country.
(“Centraalspoorweg”), which runs from Utrecht
via Amersfoort to Zwolle
and Kampen
.
In 1874 the Gooilijn
opened, running from Amsterdam
via Hilversum
to Amersfoort. Two years later the line was extended to form the Oosterspoorweg (“East rail line”) from Amersfoort to Apeldoorn
and Zutphen. In 1886 a railway line opened from Amersfoort to Kesteren. This line offered a direct service between Amsterdam and Nijmegen. However, the 1863 station was just too far east for the line, and so another station was built on the Kesteren line, called Amersfoort Stad. Parts of the Kesteren line still exist today. To permit connections between the two stations, a third station was built, called Amersfoort Aansluiting (“Amersfoort Connection”). Because this meant there were three stations all close to each other, it was decided to consolidate them and the current station was built and opened in 1901. It was renovated in 1997, at which time a third island-platform, as well as an exit on the north side of the station, were built.
Since 1970 Amersfoort has been important for intercity passengers, as it is the only station where all cross country intercity trains from Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam to Leeuwarden, Groningen and Enschede meet. Passengers only need to cross to the other side of an island platform to change for trains to other destinations.
A second station was opened in Amersfoort in 1987, called Amersfoort Schothorst
, and in 2006 a third was opened, Amersfort Vathorst
. Both these stations are on the Amersfoort – Zwolle line.
The Centraalspoorweg between Amersfoort and Zwolle is also known as the Veluwelijn
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
, Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The station is an important link between the central part of the Netherlands and the north and east of the country.
History
The original station building opened on 20 August 1863, and closed in 1904. It was called Amersfoort NCS and is located next to the railway tracks 200 metres (656 ft) east of the end of the platforms of the current station. This first station opened as part of the Utrecht–Kampen railwayUtrecht–Kampen railway
The Utrecht–Kampen railway is an important railway line in the Netherlands running from Utrecht to Kampen, passing through Amersfoort and Zwolle...
(“Centraalspoorweg”), which runs from Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
via Amersfoort to Zwolle
Zwolle
Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
and Kampen
Kampen
Campen or Kampen may refer:* Campen, Germany, a village by the Ems estuary, northwestern Germany, home of the Campen Lighthouse* Kampen, Germany, a municipality on the island Sylt, Germany* Kampen, Overijssel, a town in the Netherlands...
.
In 1874 the Gooilijn
Gooilijn
The Amsterdam–Zutphen railway is a railway line in the Netherlands - running from Amsterdam to Zutphen; the line passes through the towns Hilversum, Amersfoort and Apeldoorn...
opened, running from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
via Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
to Amersfoort. Two years later the line was extended to form the Oosterspoorweg (“East rail line”) from Amersfoort to Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
and Zutphen. In 1886 a railway line opened from Amersfoort to Kesteren. This line offered a direct service between Amsterdam and Nijmegen. However, the 1863 station was just too far east for the line, and so another station was built on the Kesteren line, called Amersfoort Stad. Parts of the Kesteren line still exist today. To permit connections between the two stations, a third station was built, called Amersfoort Aansluiting (“Amersfoort Connection”). Because this meant there were three stations all close to each other, it was decided to consolidate them and the current station was built and opened in 1901. It was renovated in 1997, at which time a third island-platform, as well as an exit on the north side of the station, were built.
Since 1970 Amersfoort has been important for intercity passengers, as it is the only station where all cross country intercity trains from Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam to Leeuwarden, Groningen and Enschede meet. Passengers only need to cross to the other side of an island platform to change for trains to other destinations.
A second station was opened in Amersfoort in 1987, called Amersfoort Schothorst
Amersfoort Schothorst railway station
Amersfoort Schothorst is a railway station on the Utrecht–Kampen railway between Amersfoort and Zwolle. It is located in north Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The station is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen .-History:...
, and in 2006 a third was opened, Amersfort Vathorst
Amersfoort Vathorst railway station
Amersfoort Vathorst is a railway station on the Utrecht–Kampen railway between Amersfoort and Zwolle. It is located in north Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The station is operated by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen . The station opened 28 May 2006. The station has 3 tracks, 1 of which is for terminating...
. Both these stations are on the Amersfoort – Zwolle line.
The Centraalspoorweg between Amersfoort and Zwolle is also known as the Veluwelijn
Train services
The following train services currently call at Amersfoort:- 5 daily intercity services Schiphol - Amersfoort - Hengelo - Hanover - Berlin
- 1x per hour intercity service The Hague/Rotterdam - Utrecht - Amersfoort - Zwolle - Groningen/Leeuwarden
- 1x per hour intercity service Schiphol - Hilversum - Amersfoort - Zwolle - Groningen/Leeuwarden
- 2x per hour intercity service Amsterdam - Hilversum - Amersfoort Schothorst
- 11 daily intercity services Schiphol - Amersfoort - Hengelo - Enschede
- 1x per hour intercity service The Hague/Rotterdam - Utrecht - Amersfoort - Hengelo - Enschede
- 2x per hour intercity service Rotterdam - Utrecht - Amersfoort
- 2x per hour local service (stoptrein) Utrecht - Amersfoort - Zwolle
- 2x per hour local service (sprinter) Amsterdam - Hilversum - Amersfoort Vathorst
- 2x per hour local service (stoptrein) Amersfoort - Ede-Wageningen
- 2x per hour local service (stoptrein) Amersfoort - Barneveld Centrum