AMSTERDAM METRO

'Amsterdam Metro' is a rapid transit system in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB) operates the system, along with the Amsterdam trams, ferries and a number of bus lines. All of these systems use the national ''strippenkaart'' ticketing system, and tickets on one form of transport are valid on the others.
There are four lines in the metro system. Three lines start at Amsterdam Centraal, of which two connect the city centre to the southeastern part Amsterdam Zuidoost, line 53 and line 54 and another line connects the city centre to the south and the suburb Amstelveen. Furthermore, there is a so called Ring Line (line 50) which connects Amsterdam Zuidoost to the west without going through the centre of the city.
The metro system uses standard gauge track, operating on 750 V DC third rail. Line 51 is a hybrid between metro and light rail, as it uses shared metro track between Amsterdam Centraal and Zuid, and shared tram track
between Zuid and Amstelveen Centrum, continuing with the tram-style overhead at 600 V DC to Westwijk. Dual height platforms are provided at the overlapping stops for metro line 51 and tram line 5 vehicles.

Contents

History and future

Network

Line 50 (green)

Line 51 (orange)

Line 52 (blue, under construction)

Line 53 (red)

Line 54 (yellow)

See also

References

External link

History and future

Amsterdam decided on the construction of a metro system in 1968. Four lines were to be built, connecting the entire city and replacing many of the existing tram lines.

★ In 1970 the construction of the eastern line was started and it came into operation in 1977. This eastern line consists of two branches, line 53 and 54, to link the city centre with housing developments in the south-east. During the construction, plans to demolish the entire Jewish neighbourhood near the Nieuwmarkt led to strong protests. The metro was still built (wall decorations at the Nieuwmarkt station are dedicated to the protests), but plans to build a highway through the neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam were abolished. The line had to be finished by the national government.

★ In 1990 line 51 was opened, partially sharing track with the previous metro lines, and new track with the extended tram line 5 to Amstelveen. This is referred to as a 'Sneltram' (fast tram), and was constructed to light rail standards. The changeover between third rail and overhead power takes place at Zuid.

★ In 1997 the ring line (50) was added to the system, providing a fast connection between the south and the west, eliminating the necessity of travelling through the city centre.

★ In 2002, the construction of the North/South Line was started, which is due to be completed in July 2012. The new metro line will be the first to go to the northern Amsterdam district, underneath the IJ. From there on, it will run, via Central Station to Zuid train station, which is planned to replace Amsterdam Centraal as the city's main transport hub. This line might be extended to Schiphol airport in the future.^[1]
The tram line to IJburg in the east was originally planned to be a metro line, and a short tunnel was constructed eastwards from Centraal Station underneath the railway lines towards this goal. As this line was eventually constructed as a tram line, the tunnel had been abandoned, and there are plans to use it as part of a museum of chocolate. There are still plans for the tram to IJburg to be upgraded to metro and connect to the nearby city of Almere, where big new residential areas are being built.^[2]

Network

Line 50 (green)

'Line 50: Isolatorweg - Gein'

Isolatorweg - Sloterdijk NS - De Vlugtlaan - Van Galenstraat - Postjesweg - Lelylaan NS - Heemstedestraat - Sneevlietweg - Amstelveenseweg - Zuid NS - RAI NS - Overamstel - Van der Madeweg - Duivendrecht NS - Strandvliet - Bijlmer ArenA NS - Bullewijk - Holendrecht - Reigersbos - Gein

Line 51 (orange)

'Line 51: Centraal Station - Amstelveen Westwijk'

Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstel NS - Spaklerweg - Overamstel - RAI NS - Zuid - De Boelelaan/VU - A.J. Ernststraat - Van Boshuizenstraat - Uilenstede - Kronenburg - Zonnestein - Onderuit - Oranjebaan - Amstelveen Centrum - Ouderkerkerlaan - Sportlaan - Marne - Gondel - Meent - Brink - Poortwachter - Spinnerij - Sacharovlaan - Westwijk

Line 52 (blue, under construction)

'Future line 52 (North/South Line): Buikslotermeerplein – Zuid NS'

Buikslotermeerplein - Van Hasseltweg - Centraal Station - Rokin - Vijzelgracht - Ceintuurbaan - RAI NS / Europaplein - Zuid NS

Line 53 (red)

'Line 53: Centraal Station - Gaasperplas'

Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Venserpolder - Diemen Zuid NS - Verrijn Stuartweg - Ganzenhoef - Kraaiennest - Gaasperplas

Line 54 (yellow)

'Line 54: Centraal Station - Gein'

Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Duivendrecht NS - Strandvliet - Bijlmer ArenA NS - Bullewijk - Holendrecht - Reigersbos - Gein

See also

★ List of metro systems

References

1. Zuidas Visie
2. Elsevier

External link

★ Map of metro lines and railways in Amsterdam