NS VIRM

NS Class 8600/8700/9400/9500
Two coupled VIRM units at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA
Downstairs interior of a third-generation VIRM train.
In service	1994–present
Manufacturer	Talbot, part of Bombardier Inc.
Number built	178 sets
Formation	6 cars (8600/8700) 4 cars (9400/9500)
Capacity	8600/8700 – 129 (1st), 442 (2nd) 9400/9500 – 61 (1st), 330 (2nd)
Operator(s)	NS Reizigers
Specifications
Maximum speed	140 km/h (87 mph) (service) 200 km/h (120 mph) (design)
Power output	2,388 kW (3,202 hp) (8600/8700) 1,592 kW (2,135 hp) (9400/9500)
Electric system(s)	1.5 kV DC Catenary; all units have extra space for equipment to operate on 25 kV AC Catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

140 km/h (87 mph) (service)

VIRM trains, full name Verlengd InterRegio Materieel (Lengthened interregional rolling stock), are a series of electric multiple unit (EMU) double-deck trains operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS (Dutch Railways), the principal railway operator in the Netherlands. NS has 178 of these double-deckers – 98 four-carriage sets, and 80 six-carriage sets. The trains were built between 1994 and 2009 – for the most part by Talbot, part of Bombardier Inc., with some railcars built by De Dietrich.

The VIRM trains evolved out of the previously existing DD-IRM series (DubbelDeks InterRegio Materieel or Double-deck interregional rolling stock). The first batch of 81 VIRM trains was created by lengthening all the existing DD-IRM combinations by one or two railcars. Three-unit trainsets were augmented by one carriage to transform them into a four-unit VIRM, and the four-unit sets received two more carriages, to create six-unit VIRM trains.

The first generation of DD-IRM were delivered from 1994 to 1996 as three and four car units. The three car units were delivered in the 82xx class and the four car units delivered as 84xx. The first batch of 290 double deck coaches (individual) were delivered. The first 47 were built by De Dietrich and from then on by Talbot.

As the coaches were individual but would run as a unit, they are individually numbered. Collectively they have a set number e.g., 8201, having coach number 380 8001. However, there are no double numbers, for example there can not be an 8201 and 8401 at the same time.

In 2000 an order was placed for new coaches. The 3 car sets were to be upgraded to 4 car sets, and the four car sets upgraded to 6 car sets. This is why they are now called VIRM (V = verlengd – extended). These were renumbered into the 94xx series and the 86xx series. These sets were formed between 2001 and 2005.

The second generation of VIRM were new sets built to the 4 and 6 coach formations, at the same time as the first generation were rebuilt. These were numbered 95xx (4 car units) and 87xx (6 car units). These sets featured different seats, which were also in the new coaches placed inside the first generation sets.