Amsterdam Metro

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Amsterdam Metro
Locale	Amsterdam
Transit type	Mixed rapid transit and light rail
Began operation	1977
System length	Rapid transit: 32.7 km (20.3 mi) Total: 42.5 km (26.4 mi) ^[1]
No. of lines	4
No. of stations	33 (rapid transit) 52 (total)
Operator(s)	Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB)

The Amsterdam metro lines

The Amsterdam Metro is a rapid transit system in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB) operates the system, along with trams, ferries and a number of bus lines also in Amsterdam. All of these systems use the national strippenkaart ticketing system, and tickets on one form of transport are valid on the others.

Since 2006 the metro system has also accepted the successor to the strippenkaart; a contactless smart card known as the OV Chipkaart. New ticket gates have been installed in all enclosed stations, and standalone checkin/checkout machines where platforms are shared with the train and tram lines. The OV Chipkaart is scheduled to replace the strippenkaart system in 2009, but until that time one ticket barrier will always stand open to allow strippenkaart users access, and ticket inspectors are still common. Vending machines for both systems are present at all metro stations.

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.

1 History and future
2 Network
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History and future

Metrotrain on the Ringline (1990s)

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. Due to setbacks and disputes with the construction company the construction of the line is behind on schedule and it is now scheduled for completion in 2013. 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 Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the future.^[2]

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.^[3]

[edit] Network

[edit] 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

Metrotrain of the original model (1970's)

[edit] Line 51 (orange)

Line 51: Centraal Station - Amstelveen - Westwijk

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

[edit] 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

[edit] Line 53 (red)

Line 53: Centraal Station - Gaasperplas
Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation NS - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Venserpolder - Diemen Zuid NS - Verrijn Stuartweg - Ganzenhoef - Kraaiennest - Gaasperplas

Construction of the north south line in Amsterdam North

[edit] Line 54 (yellow)

Line 54: Centraal Station - Gein
Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation NS - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Duivendrecht NS - Strandvliet - Bijlmer ArenA NS - Bullewijk - Holendrecht - Reigersbos - Gein

[edit] North/South Line

The North/South Line (in Dutch Noord/Zuidlijn) is a new line which started construction in April 2003. The route is planned to run from Amsterdam-Noord, under the North Sea Canal (IJ) and the city centre, to the Amsterdam Zuid railway station in the south of Amsterdam. The project has a budget of €1,800 million, and a completion date of spring, 2015.^[4] The program has experienced several difficulties, mainly at Centraal Station, resulting in the project running 14% over budget. The original planned opening of 2011 has slipped several times, so the current deadline has been contractually agreed upon by all parties, with the construction companies facing fines should the completion date slip any further.^[4]^[5]

The route will start at Buikslotermeerplein; stopping at Johan van Hasseltweg (IJ waterway); Centraal Station (transfer to main railroad); Rokin (northside entrance: Dam Square); Vijzelgracht; Ceintuurbaan; and^[6] Europaplein; before terminating at Zuid/WTC NS where passengers can transfer to the main railway.