NS TRAIN SERVICES AND STATIONS
VENLO
Junction of lines west to Eindhoven, south to Roermond, and east into Germany. At Blerick, 1 km west of Venlo, a line diverges north to Nijmegen. The lines to Nijmegen and Roermond are part of a through diesel operated route. The line into Germany is electrified at 15,000 volts AC, the German standard. Tracks are electrified with switchable voltages. The trend in recent years has been towards multi voltage electric locomotives and trains. But a station with switchable voltages makes it possible for single voltage locomotives to be changed at a border station. An arriving locomotive will uncouple and run back around the train. After which the station track voltage is switched, and the relieving locomotive is coupled onto the train. Similar border stations with switchable voltages exist in Germany, at Emmerich which is east of Arnhem, and at Bentheim which is east of Hengelo and Oldenzaal.
Mapping the Station and Lines
Zoomable Google Maps show the station and rail routes in the area.
LINKS
Venlo Station
Wikipedia link containing further station information and history.