#3184· Mat '54
NS Mat '54
🇧🇪 Belgium ·built by Allans Music· from 1954· Dutch electric multiple unit train
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Hondekop: Wikimedia Commons· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2. Hondekop 386: User:Willem_90· Public domain
- 3. Groningen CS with Mat '54 - 1970: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4. Mat '54 - Art train: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 5. Mat '54 - Station Enschede 1971: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 6. Mat '54 bij station Utrecht Maliebaan 1989: Smiley.toerist· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 7. Mat 54 in Rotterdam: TGr_79· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 8. NS 1217 - Mat'54 IC Utrecht CS: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 9. NS Mat'54 348: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 10. NS-1152 - mat54 Tilburg: Frans van Rooden· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The NS Mat '54 or Materieel '54 was an electric multiple unit train, used by the Dutch State-owned railways from 1956 until 1996. The typical nose of the train was designed for extra safety for the train driver. The public gave the train a nickname: Doghead (Hondekop).
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 72 years ago, in 1954.
- Top speed is 1.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- Served for 40 years (1956–1996).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1954
- in service from
- 1956
- retired
- 1996
- status
- retired
- number built
- 153
- kind
- Electric multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- builders
- Allans Music, Beijnes, Werkspoor
- operators
- Nederlandse Spoorwegen, SNCB/NMBS
- top speed
- 140 km/h
- power
- —
- Dutch name
- Mat '54
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q12013168, Wikipedia: NS Mat '54 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.