During the Formula 1 weekend from 23 to 25 August, Dutch national railway company NS will be running a special timetable. In order to bring the thousands of racing fans to Zandvoort aan Zee smoothly and safely, a train will run every five minutes between Amsterdam Central Station and Zandvoort.
This way, NS can transport approximately 10,000 passengers per hour. The circuit is within walking distance of the station. This makes the train the only way to make Formula 1 in Zandvoort accessible to so many racing fans in a sustainable manner.
NS expects 50,000 train passengers per day to Zandvoort
During the race weekend, NS expects around 50,000 train passengers per day. That is why there are over 300 extra personnel working to help passengers. This is a huge logistical operation because on a normal day two to four trains per hour run on this route.
“For NS, it’s all hands on deck this weekend. It’s the holiday season, also for some of our colleagues. In addition to Formula 1, there are also other events on the program, such as the Zand festival in Almere. In addition, ProRail is working on the track in various places in the country. We have therefore had to adjust the timetable throughout the country. For example, we run most trains where we expect the most passengers. A challenging weekend for us and for Max,” says Eelco van Asch, Director of Operations and member of the Executive Board.
Main measures
To manage the crowds and quickly resolve any disruptions, NS and ProRail are taking the following measures:
- Trains to Amsterdam will be extended and Sprinters between Amsterdam and Zandvoort will run at maximum length.
- Each of these trains has two drivers and a conductor so that the train can depart quickly after arrival.
- Extra platforms at Zandvoort station and an extra staircase at Haarlem station ensure good separation of passenger flows.
- From Friday to Sunday, more than 300 additional perssonnel are active every day.
- At stations, staff are on hand to inform and direct travellers, while additional check-in and check-out posts ensure smooth check-in and check-out.
- Level crossings between Halfweg and Zandvoort will be closed with diversion routes for road traffic.
- Additional breakdown teams, a towing locomotive and a reserve train are on standby to immediately deal with any technical problems.
Travel advice
NS advises travellers to consult the journey planner before departure and to take into account the large crowds on the trains and at the stations towards Zandvoort. The timetable is being adjusted throughout the country due to the various events in combination with work on the track by ProRail.
Buying a ticket online in advance, such as the NS Dutch Grand Prix (DGP) Return, can prevent long queues at ticket machines. Travelers without a subscription can also check in and out with their bank card. Due to the large crowds, bicycles cannot be taken on trains to Amsterdam until 13:00. This applies all day between Amsterdam and Zandvoort.
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