Efteling reveals plans to electrify the park's steam trains
An important step for the climate-neutral ambitions of the Dutch theme park
The steam trains that transport passengers around Efteling theme park will be electrically powered in the future. Since the arrival of the first steam locomotive Aagje 55 years ago, the trains have been running on coal. Efteling wants to be climate-neutral by 2030 and aims to be climate-positive by 2032. To achieve this ambition, it is necessary to ensure the trains are more sustainable. Efteling will therefore gradually electrify the current steam locomotives, with the first one set to be introduced during the upcoming Winter Efteling.
The appearance of the trains will be retained, only the propulsion will be modified. To approximate the nostalgic experience of a steam train ride as much as possible, show effects will be added. As such, the Efteling Steam Train Company will simply remain the Efteling Steam Train Company.
Maintain nostalgic experience
The revamped design preserves the nostalgic atmosphere and thus the current experience as much as possible. That was a key principle in the brief for supplier and narrow gauge specialist Alan Keef Ltd of Herefordshire, UK. “We are greatly looking forward to putting our many years’ of experience and passion to work on this wonderful project at Efteling,” says Patrick Keef, Managing Director at this family-owned company. “It really is a special undertaking, where we can put our extensive experience in electrifying trains to good use. Of course, we will undertake this with a keen awareness of the historical value and uniqueness of the steam trains. And ensuring that whatever we remove is preserved for its historical value.”
Alan Keef Ltd is no stranger to Efteling. In 1991, this British supplier built the fourth and last locomotive for the Efteling Steam Train Company, Trijntje. The family-owned enterprise is an authority on narrow gauge and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
About the Efteling Steam Train Company
The Efteling Steam Train Company was founded in 1969. This company covers all steam locomotives, stations, platforms and routes in the Efteling theme park. In the 1960s, Efteling wanted a train in the park to transport visitors from the entrance to the swimming pool and back. The steam locomotive Aagje, from the Arnhem brickworks IJsseloord, with a 60cm gauge track is just right. She is embellished with extra brass work and the carriages are built by Efteling itself, to Anton Pieck's designs. He also drew the (two) stations on the then 1800-metre stretch of track. From 1984, prior to the arrival of the Python roller coaster, the track was extended to a circular ride. Since then, the complete steam train track totals three and a half kilometres. Four locomotives have transported visitors through Efteling: Aagje (1911), Moortje (1907), Neefje (1914) and Trijntje (1991). Neefje retired in 2001 and has since stood as a photo object on the Sint Nicolaasplaets opposite Marerijk Station.
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About Efteling:
Since the opening in 1952, more than 130 million visitors have experienced an unforgettable day at Efteling, in the south of Holland. Over the years, Efteling has grown to become one of Europe’s biggest theme parks, with a unique fairytale atmosphere, natural surroundings and a wide range of thrilling attractions. It is now ranked in the top 25 theme parks in the world, according to the Tea Theme Index 2022. Efteling is open all year round and is an ideal family short-break destination with the Efteling Hotel and the holiday villages Efteling Bosrijk and Efteling Loonsche Land just a stone’s throw away. Through a programme of phased growth, Efteling became an international destination with five million visitors per year.
How to get there
Easily accessible from the UK, Efteling sits an hour from Amsterdam. Visitors can take the Eurostar to either Rotterdam or Amsterdam, fly to Amsterdam Schiphol or Eindhoven Airport, or drive to the Netherlands via the Eurotunnel. Regular trains run to the nearby ‘s Hertogenbosch station, as well as a regular bus service and taxis directly to the park.