NS has announced it will begin testing the first of its new Sprinter electric multiple units (EMUs) in the next few weeks.
An NS spokesman said testing of the first train will commence in Maastricht by either the end of this month or the beginning of April.
Stadler is building 58 Sprinter trains for the Dutch operator. Production is based in Poland, with each train taking, on average, 15 weeks to assemble.
The aim is for the new Sprinters, which will be delivered as a mix of three and four-car units, to begin operating regional services in the south east of the country from the December 2016 timetable change.
In 2014, NS announced that CAF had won a €500 million contract to build its new fleet of Sprinter trains. With these units not due to arrive until 2018 and demand expected to outstrip supply, NS placed an additional order with Stadler.
In the meantime, to meet a shortfall in rolling stock availability, NS is refurbishing 11 DDM1 double-deck carriages and is in the process of procuring a new fleet of intercity trains.
Later this year, NS will also return the first of its upgraded double-deck VIRM units to revenue service. By 2020, 416 VIRM carriages will have been overhauled.
Photos courtesy of NS
