RandstadRail
RandstadRail is a public transportation rapid transit network in the southern part of the Randstad conurbation in the west of the Netherlands, connecting The Hague, Zoetermeer and Rotterdam. The network mainly uses former train and existing tram tracks, with a new flyover in The Hague and a new tunnel in Rotterdam. RandstadRail is a hybrid system of low-floor tram-train-like carriages used between The Hague and the city of Zoetermeer, and high-floor metro/subway-like carriages between The Hague and Rotterdam. The stations used by both lines have extended platforms with a high and a low part. Moreover, the network includes two bus lines.
Contents
Network
Metro line
Line E, formerly called the Erasmuslijn, runs for a great part on the former Hofpleinlijn railway line between The Hague central station and Rotterdam Hofplein, operated since November 2006 by RET metro trains. At the time of the conversion to metro-like operation (retaining some level crossings) more stops were added and frequencies increased. Although the conversion was not flawless, with both a series of technical problems and a derailment,[1] the line has been in full metro-like operation since September 2007. Rotterdam Hofplein terminus has been replaced in 2010 by a tunnel to connect with the local metro-network at Rotterdam Centraal railway station. In December 2011, the line was extended to Slinge metro station in the south of Rotterdam, sharing the section between Rotterdam Centraal and Slinge with the already existing metro line D, having its terminus in the town of Spijkenisse, southwest of Rotterdam. The metro line runs every 10 to 15 minutes.
| Line | Route |
|---|---|
| E | Den Haag Centraal - Laan van NOI - Voorburg 't Loo - Leidschendam-Voorburg - Forepark - Leidschenveen - Nootdorp - Pijnacker Centrum - Pijnacker Zuid - Berkel Westpolder - Rodenrijs - Meijersplein - Melanchthonweg - Blijdorp - Rotterdam Centraal - Stadhuis - Beurs - Leuvehaven - Wilhelminaplein - Rijnhaven - Maashaven - Zuidplein - Slinge |
Tram-train lines
RandstadRail includes four tram lines; line 2 from The Hague to Leidschendam, lines 3 and 4 from The Hague to Zoetermeer, and line 19 from Leidschendam to Delft. These lines are operated by HTM and use RandstadRail's Citadis vehicles rather than HTM's older GTL8's. Lines 2 and 19 are only temporarily RandstadRail lines; they will leave the network upon the arrival of HTM's new tram vehicles in 2015. Line 3 (between Arnold Spoelplein and Central Station) and 4 (between De Uithof and Central Station) are operated as a regular tramline. Between Central Station and Zoetermeer they are operated as a lightrailsystem. Line 2, 3 and 4 come every 10 minutes during daytime, on Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, as well as in the evening, they come once every 15 minutes. Line 19, even during the daytime, comes only once every 15 minutes.
Bus lines
In December 2012, two bus lines were added to RandstadRail. These so-called ZoRo-bus lines, line 170 and line 173, run between Zoetermeer and Rodenrijs RandstadRail station, where they connect with Randstadrail metroline E to and from Rotterdam. A new bus lane was constructed between the two cities for the project. The buses are operated by the RET three times hourly and have an almost instant connection to arriving Randstadrail-metrotrains at Rodenrijs RandstadRail station. At their terminus in Zoetermeer Centrum-West Randstadrail station these buslines connect with all other Zoetermeer city- and regional buslines (Arriva and Veolia Transport) and Randstadraillines 3 and 4.
| Line | Route |
|---|---|
| 170 | Rodenrijs - Berkel en Rodenrijs - Station Zoetermeer - Station Zoetermeer Oost - Centrum West |
| 173 | Rodenrijs - Berkel en Rodenrijs - Bergschenhoek - Korenmolenweg - Bleiswijk - Centrum West |
See also
References
- ↑ The most serious derailment took place on 29 November 2006, injuring 17 passengers.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to RandstadRail. |
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