The "Intercity" from Utrecht to Leiden

The track between Leiden and Utrecht is about the worst in the Netherlands. It is a single track, often disrupted because there is a cow on the line or a signals failure. The trains are often busy to the point of bursting. It used to be a all-station service, but since recently the Dutch railways upgraded it to an intercity (fast train) service. It skips two stations where it used to stop, but it takes longer.

There is one good thing about this line: it cuts right across the so-called "green heart" of the Netherlands, so it offers great views of the Dutch countryside and those fabulous skies you can see on the old Dutch masters.