RandstadRail

A map of the RandstadRail network between The Hague (left), Zoetermeer (right) and Rotterdam (bottom).

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.

Network

Metro line

An RET metro near Nootdorp.

Line E of the Rotterdam Metro, formerly called the Erasmuslijn, runs for a great part on the former Hofpleinlijn railway line between Den Haag Centraal station in The Hague and Hofplein station in Rotterdam. It was opened as a RandstadRail line in September 2006, running at the time between Nootdorp and Hofplein until it was extended to The Hague in November of that year.

As part of the line's conversion to RandstadRail operation, it began using RET metro trains (retaining some level crossings), more stops were added and train 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 was replaced in 2010 with a bored tunnel connecting the line 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, thus having its terminus in the town of Spijkenisse, southwest of Rotterdam. The metro line runs every 10 to 15 minutes.

Tram-train lines

A RandstadRail tram in The Hague's tram tunnel.

RandstadRail includes four tram-train 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 RegioCitadis vehicles rather than HTM's older GTL8's. Lines 2 and 19 are only temporarily operated as RandstadRail lines as they lack balloon loops at their termini and cannot be used by the uni-directional GTL8's. They will return to the Hague tram network upon the arrival of HTM's new bi-directional Avenio vehicles in 2015.

Line 3 (between Arnold Spoelplein and Central Station) and 4 (between De Uithof and Central Station) are operated as a regular street-running tram line. Between Central Station and Zoetermeer they operate on dedicated tracks as a light rail system, partially interlined with metro line E. 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

A RandstadRail bus near Berkel en Rodenrijs.

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.

See also

• Trams in The Hague
• Trams in Rotterdam

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RandstadRail.

• RandstadRail
• Route map and connections

Urban public transport networks and systems in the Netherlands Metro Amsterdam Rotterdam Light rail RandstadRail (The Hague–Rotterdam) Utrecht Trams Amsterdam The Hague Rotterdam Trolleybuses Arnhem