Station Schiphol is the main railway station, built to serve Schipol airport which it is inside, considering other airport train stations I've been to, this is probably one of the best locations as you simply go up the stairs or the lift to get into the Schipol Plaza Arrivals area, and despite it being quite difficult with a lack of signs to get to check-in from there, the location still remains well located for the airport.
My main issue with the station was how unhelpful the staff were, they once again seemed to do the bare minimum, they didn't explain the best value tickets or the train times, which certainly wasn't good for an airport. My train into Amsterdam Centraal from here which takes around 20 minutes, cost around 4 or 5 euros to buy a ticket and that included a booking fee, which is another thing I don't understand why they need to charge - this, however, does seem to be common on trains in Amsterdam because I was later charged this on my journey back to the airport, when I used the automatic machine at Amsterdam Centraal Station.
The platforms seemed pretty basic and typical of public transportation in Amsterdam, they didn't seem as modern as back home in the UK for example but the main station concourse was actually quite cool and a big area too, with it being apart of the airport.
Schipol Station is really useful due to its convenient location being basically below the airport, making it great to continue your journey to Amsterdam after getting off a flight, or perhaps continue your journey overseas too without the need for an aircraft, as services from here not only go to Amsterdam Zuid and Centraal Stations, but Brussels and Paris as well, to see destinations from an airport train station include Belgium and France, this did surprise me as people wouldn't go to the airport with an intention of getting a train rather than a plane in my opinion, but it proves some people actually do!
Issues with ticketing, mobility assistance where you have to wait an hour if you need help boarding a tram (not all staff seem to know this nor do they make you aware) and the majority of the station staff seeming rude and unhelpful I feel this station is far from perfect, but one thing it is is a useful hub to public transportation in Amsterdam, and without it it would have made my journey back to Amsterdam Centraal difficult, the location directly below the airport too makes it easier, especially for travellers to find the airport after getting off the train journey and perhaps even get a drink (if you're accompanying a friend to an airport there's actually something for you to do), so I feel a three-star rating is in order here! read more