Trains, Trains and More Trains

C is on half-term this week so we decided to visit Amsterdam.  While the flight from London is just under an hour, we figured total travel time would be about the same if we took the train.  The train is definitely our preferred mode of transportation - there are things to see en route and much more space.  

There is no direct train from London to Amsterdam so we needed to change trains in Brussels.  Unfortunately when we arrived at Midi train station we did not see our train on the board and there were posters on the wall with our train name.  Not a good sign.  All the text was in French so we asked at the information desk.  Apparently our train, the Fyra, was a relatively new line that had been plagued with issues, and was not running.  Then there were some comments about the Italians being good at design but not at function and that the trains should have been bought from the Canadians.  We were instructed to grab a train to Antwerp and pick up one to Amsterdam from there.  And if we hurried there was a train leaving in 2 minutes.  So with no time to regroup we took off for the platform - 3 suitcases, 2 kids and 1 stroller.  It was a relatively short ride, maybe 30 min, on a local train that was surprisingly well set up to accommodate luggage and bikes with flip up seats and straps on the lower level.  J started chatting with a nice couple that assured us this was a good plan.  

The Antwerp train station was quite beautiful in both architecture and function.  The trains arrive on 4 different levels which you can see from different vantage points.

Once we arrived we had to figure out which train would take us to Amsterdam.  We were given the option of a high speed train which would cost an additional 70 euros each or we could use our current tickets on the local train line.  We opted for the cheaper, local route.  The instructions were to get off at the first stop, go across the platform and change trains.  

Let me introduce you to the first stop, the most desolate depressing station I've ever seen.  

We were the only ones who got off and I'm not surprised.  We dragged the kids and our bags downstairs to try to figure out where we were and found no proper station and no posters with train information, just graffiti and bad smells.  It didn't take us long to realize this was most likely not where we needed to be.  Before deciding to return to Antwerp to start all over again (and likely pay the additional money for the high-speed train), I called the train company who I bought the original tickets from.  They explained what we needed to do.  Hop back on the next train and take it to the LAST stop.

So an hour later we were back on the same train, finally confident about where we were headed.

The train switch at Rosendan was easy - just across the platform - and we settled in for the last leg of the train journey.  J & I were pooped at this point.  Through it all the kids were troopers and were treated with some well-deserved iPad time.

Almost there.  C wondering if it's Amsterdam or Hamsterdam?

 

Five trains and an extra 3 hrs. later, we finally arrived in Amsterdam.  It was dark by the time we reached the apartment we were staying at but even the nighttime view of the canal was lovely.