Dutch traines ( student story #5)

I am sitting in the train going to Amsterdam. It takes me 2 hours 16 min. I have come across many difficulties and specific features of Dutch railroad system and want to tell you about. Everything there in Dutch. All the stations are announced in Dutch language so if younot really good in it yet just look around. I had 2 funny accidents. I was sitting in the train going to my sweet Leeuwarden, relaxed, enjoying the landscape. But immediately after some announcements by a driver the people started to leave the train very quick. And it was not the last station, not yet the middle. Beeing smart enough I asked the people who stayed what is it going on here and the answer surprised me a lot. Part of the train was going to my destination and another – to another. Strange, isn’t it? Still didn’t get how it could be but Ijoined leaving people and moved to another wagon and the train left the next moment after the doors were closed after me. If you are going to travel a lot (as I do!) I advice you to by a reduction card. It cost about 60 euro but it worth it! It will save you 40% of a ticket price. You can use it every day from 9:00 and weekend any time. IF you are a student you can try to get a card wich will let you travel for free. But first you should get a residence permit and fill out a lot of papers so it can take half a year. And the most important thing on my opinion about Dutch trains is change of trains on your way. If you travel from or to a small city you will need to change your train may be even more then once. Between big cities there is a straight connection. When you buying a ticket just go to the ticket office and ask for a schedule. For changing you will have around 5 min. And you will need to run from one platform to another, so get ready =). And a couple words about the second accident. I forgot to change trains. Yeah, just forgot. And when I found it out I was at the last station and very far form my final destination. It was about 10 pm. Usually about 9 pm the last train is leaving. Being lucky I cought the train there to Leeuwarden and in 2 hours at midnight was there ( if I would not forget to change I would be there at 10 even!). And the controller didn’t make me even pay for another ticket!