Train Cab Ride NL / Limburg: Missing Link! / Heerlen - Roermond - Heerlen / VIRM IC / Jan + May 2026

Hi everyone! Today a very special ride. For the people we joined me many years ago you probably know there's only one more piece of NS route missing on my channel. And that is Heerlen - Sittard vv. Today is your lucky day. A high quality video with loads of information about stations, signals and even a European Instruction for the train dispatcher. We do the drive in two season. To Roermond in winter season and back to Heerlen in spring season! Enjoy! 0:00 Heerlen - Winter Season Ride We're back in January. Right before the ride we receive a European Instruction (EI) from the train dispatcher. With the command to drive on sight from kilometre 7.7 to 7.9 between Heerlen and Sittard. This because of persons working next to the tracks without the required clothing. Police is already at the scene. Are you ready for the ride? Let's go! 2:29 Heerlen Connection Line towards Maastricht bending off to the left. 3:57 Station Announcement Explained Stations are often announced with a long stretched S-sign at braking distance from the platform. Mostly when maximum speeds on the route are allowed above 80km/h. 4:21 Hoensbroek 6:02 Nuth 7:09 Informing Passengers Informing passengers about the fact we must slow down because of persons next to the tracks. 7:49 Schinnen 8:27 European Instruction - Person next to Tracks I blurred away the persons and police. This is why it is important workers always wear their correct working clothes. If not recognised: drivers will report them as unwanted persons next to the tracks. 9:32 Spaubeek 11:30 Geleen Oost 11:42 Signals Explained until Sittard! A signal with a P on it works fully automatic. It's important for a driver to know when a signal without P (operated by the train dispatchers office) is closing in. In the upcoming few minutes I'll explain how. 13:06 Sittard Arrival Just like 100km/h, 70km/h is not a speed known for the ATB speed system. ATB can only show speed steps 40, 60, 80, 130 and 140km/h. It's just a help for the driver. The driver is always fully in control. 15:52 Sittard - Departure Lights Explained Those flashing white lights at the platform let the train manager know the signal is save for departure. 20:00 Susteren 22:00 Echt 24:20 Maasbracht 27:06 Roermond Delayed Arrival We must slow down because of a delayed train ahead. Also delayed because of the persons next to the tracks between Heerlen and Sittard. 30:14 Roermond Spring Season Ride! Alright. Enough with the trees without leaves. Time for nice green spring ride! 33:24 Level Crossings Explained At this sign the level crossing mentioned on the sign is activated by the train. About 35 seconds later we pass that level crossing. Always make sure to wait when the red lights start working! We are not able to stop on time when shit hits the fan. 34:52 Maasbracht 37:33 Echt 39:42 Susteren 42:34 Sittard Arrival Make sure to remember that speed sign from before the yellow signal. 46:49 Sittard Departure Because you remembered we can now depart with 70km/h right away. Perfect for when delayed. But we are on time now. So we drive more comfortable. Note that the route towards Heerlen has a lot of gradient in the tracks. I love driving here every ones in a while. 49:51 Geleen Oost 51:38 Spaubeek 52:47 Schinnen 54:44 Nuth 56:58 Hoensbroek 57:06 Exceptional Danger Point Announcement Some danger points like switches and bridges are extra mentioned to the driver. On braking distance before the signal that blocks a section like this, that signal is announces to the driver with the yellow beacons! Note: ON BRAKING DISTANCE! In this case there's also a final P-signal in between that is not on braking distance from the signal before (when driving on maximum allowed speed). 57:14 L-sign Explained The L-sign is only valid for heavy designated trains that are not able to gain speed on the gradient in the tracks ahead. On braking distance there's a H-sign where they must stop for. The H will be gone as soon as the track is cleared without the heavy train having to stop on the gradient track. 58:52 Heerlen Connection - Exceptional Danger Point This time I extra mentioned the exceptional danger point for you all. It's about the connecting tracks coming from the Maastricht direction. 1:00:23 Heerlen Arriving at our final stop. I hope you enjoyed this final missing piece of the puzzle on my channel. You can now enjoy all NS routes on my channel (accept Spoorwegmuseum - I do not drive there). Cheers! :D :D The Meaning of Signals https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0017707 More Ride Info https://treinposities.nl/ritinfo/2026... https://treinposities.nl/ritinfo/2026... Want More? Check out my other Socials!   / machiniststefan   https://www.threads.net/@machiniststefan https://bsky.app/profile/machinistste...