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AMS → Amsterdam · head to head

Night train to Amsterdam CentraalorIntercity to Amsterdam Zuid?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Night train to Amsterdam Centraal reaches Amsterdam Centraal station, at the top of the old center; the Intercity to Amsterdam Zuid does not. This stops at Zuid, a station in the south of Amsterdam, a long way from the old center. The Sprinter from platform 3 goes to Centraal instead.

The Intercity to Amsterdam Zuid is quicker: 6 min against 15 min. The Night train to Amsterdam Centraal varies between 14 and 15 minutes.

Night train to Amsterdam Centraal: 02:03–05:02. Intercity to Amsterdam Zuid: 05:31–00:33.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersNight train to Amsterdam CentraalIntercity to Amsterdam ZuidDifference
1€5.50€3.70€1.80
2€11€7.40€3.60
3€16.50€11.10€5.40
4€22€14.80€7.20
5€27.50€18.50€9
6€33€22.20€10.80
7€38.50€25.90€12.60
8€44€29.60€14.40

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
regional · NSNight train to Amsterdam Centraal
From
Platforms 1–2, directly below Schiphol Plaza
To
Amsterdam Centraal — between 01:00 and 05:00 the station is exited only via the Westtunnel and the IJ side
Luggage
An Intercity, with racks and space by the doors.
Runs
02:03–05:02
Journey
14–15 min

Not on Tuesday nights. The direct night train does not run Tuesday to Wednesday; the N97 bus does, hourly from 01:19, and NS offers a two-train route via Bijlmer ArenA at the same fare.

Between the 01:09 Sprinter and the 02:03 night train nothing leaves for Amsterdam except the 01:19 bus.

It stops at Amsterdam Centraal only in Amsterdam, then goes on to Utrecht. For Zuid or Sloterdijk at night take the N97.

Night train to Amsterdam Centraal: price for every party size

See the fare on NS
Intercity · NSIntercity to Amsterdam Zuid
From
Platforms 1–2, directly below Schiphol Plaza
To
Amsterdam Zuid station, for the Zuidas business district
Runs
05:31–00:33
Journey
5–9 min

Check the board for Amsterdam Zuid by name before you board: not every train from platforms 1–2 stops there.

Check in AND out. A forgotten check-out is EUR 33.30 on a bank card, a forgotten check-in EUR 20.

Intercity to Amsterdam Zuid: price for every party size

See the fare on NS

This compares two of 18 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Airport Schiphol