Utrecht Travel Forum

We plan to take a train to Utrecht from the airport. I have seen schedules that show direct (no change) to Utrecht takes 60 minutes, or change in Duivendrecht that take about 40 minutes. What is best?

Also, can we buy a return ticket that we will not use until we leave about one week later, or must it be bought separately?

The whole train situation has me confused, especially the part of validating tickets before getting on the train. Is there a site that explains all of this? I am used to just handing the ticket to the conductor.

Thanks

If you travel with heavy bags take the direct train (it's a slow one stopping at 12 small stations in between.

I f you travel light, take the faster option. Watch your belongings while changing trains at Duivendrecht.

Just buy a single ticket 2nd class for Euro 7.10 (+0.50) at the Schiphol train ticket office (at Schiphol plaza-the main hall). You don't have to self stamp that ticket; that's only for tickets one can buy inadvance with no travel date on them.

On the way back buy a single ticket at Utrecht Central station.

Your ticket will be checked at the train.

More info, see VT's Schiphol page at: http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/6fbd0/

Utrecht station hall: http://p.vtourist.com/1/1755836-Meeting_point_Central_Station-Utrecht.jpg

PJ

The slow train from Utrecht is indeed better with heavy luggage but the train is not so comfortable as the fast train (seets are more tight etc.) And it really stops at every station so its a long journey.

If you go by fast train your train will arrive upstairs at Duivendrecht if coming from Utrecht so you will have to take your bags downstairs to transfer to the fast train to Schiphol. Seems more of a hassle but it isnt actually.

Despite this transfer the fast train is more comfortable and quicker.

You cannot by tickets for a return date with one week later. As PV said just buy a single to the Airport and buy a blank one to return, or just buy one on the day of return (you might change your plans).

If you buy a blank one for the return journey dont forget to stamp it before entering the train ! (At the yellow stamp boxes when entering the platform or just ask).

Actually if you dont want to get confused by stamping or not. Just buy a single journey from Utrecht to the airport and on the day you want to go back do the same.

These tickets are stamped already.

Is the slow train & the fast one the same? I saw that on the Dutch rail site there are train(s) for Utrecht leaving at the same time. I thought maybe it was the same train, but you get off at Duivendrecht to catch another. I hope I am not confusing things.

The part from Schiphol to Duivendrecht is used by both slow and fast trains, so you can change trains at Duivendrecht from either one.
The term slow and fast might be confusing. With slow is ment a train that stops at every in between stop. The slow train is the only direct one from Schiphol to Utrecht.

PJ

For example on the Dutch rail site there are two trains leaving Schiphol at 11:10 from the same track with the same train number. Is it the same train, but you get off at Duivendrecht to take another to Utrecht or stay on the train the long way via Hilversum to Utrecht? Or are there two different trains?

The 11.10 train is the slow train (Stoptrein 5737). If you stay in this train you travel via Hilversum and Hollandse Rading (a little detour) in a total travel time of 60 minutes.

The faster way is taking the same train, but change trains at Duivendrecht; 6 minutes to go from track 1 to 8 and to get on the Intercity 3039 coming from Amsterdam Central Station and taking a more direct way to Utrecht at a total travel time of 37 minutes.

PJ