It was intended as an alternative connection between Amsterdam and the German border and competed with the Staatsspoor-run Amsterdam–Arnhem railway (Rhijnspoorweg).

500 metres east of Amsterdam Muiderpoort is the entrance to Watergraafsmeer rail depot; this is also the point where the Schiphol freight bridge is located.

It then becomes a four-track section, crossing the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal with two large bridges side-by-side.

This is where passengers to Almere and Lelystad, Hilversum and Amersfoort, Amsterdam and Diemen and Schiphol and Duivendrecht would all change for destinations not served by their train.

It reduces back to four tracks and then 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Weesp, the line splits, with the Flevolijn having two tracks branch off, where the line goes to Almere Centrum and Lelystad Centrum.

This station layout was changed in December 2008, to three through tracks and one terminating from Soest direction.

This continues as three tracks for about 400 m (1,300 ft) until the Stichtse lijn branches off to Soest and Utrecht.

The station has ten tracks in total, consisting of three large island platforms.