Rotterdam Metro

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Rotterdam Metro sign at Delfshaven station

MG2/1-metro series 5300, built by Bombardier

MG2-train in station

The Rotterdam Metro is a rapid transit system operated in Rotterdam by RET. The first line, called Noord - Zuidlijn (North - South line) openend February 8, 1968, and ran from the Centraal Station to Zuidplein, crossing the Nieuwe Maas in a tunnel. It was the first metrosystem to open in the Netherlands, and at the time one of the shortest metro's in the world, with a length of only 5,9 kilometers.

May 6, 1982 a second line was opened, the so called Oost - Westlijn (East - West line). Later the lines were renamed after two historic Rotterdam citizens, Desiderius Erasmus and Pieter Caland. Today the two lines or Rotterdams metro system have a total of five branches (one shared by both lines).

1 Erasmus Line
2 Caland Line
3 External links
4 External links

[edit] Erasmus Line

Line color = Blue

Rotterdam Central station - Albrandswaard (Rhoon, Poortugaal) - Hoogvliet - Spijkenisse. The Erasmus Line intersects with the Caland Line at Beurs station, the only underground interchange between metrolines in the Netherlands.

[edit] Caland Line

Line color = Red

Two lines from the northeast of Rotterdam (Ommoord and since September 2005 to the new constructed neighbourhood Nesselande (before it ended at Zevenkamp which is one stop before Nesselande), both in Prins Alexander) and one from Capelle aan den IJssel join; the combined line terminated in the west of Rotterdam, but on November 4, 2002, an extension was opened: the line now connects to the main railway network at Schiedam railway station, has a stop in Pernis and joins the Erasmus Line in Hoogvliet; trains on the Caland Line, like those on the Erasmus Line, terminate in Spijkenisse.

The Ommoord an Nesselande branches of the Caland Line have some level crossings (with priority), and could therefore be called light rail instead of metro; however, they are integrated in the system; these parts also have overhead wires, while the rest of the system has a third rail, the vehicles on the Caland Line can handle both.