RandstadRail
The term Randstad is used to identify the southwestern region of The Netherlands, including the cities of The Hague and Rotterdam. The Hague is the capital city of The Netherlands, while Rotterdam is the second largest city in the country. RandstadRail, a passenger rail improvement project, was developed to provide better transport services within this region. The RandstadRail system includes three components:
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Route #3 Tram Line between The Hague and Zoetermeer
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Route #4 Tram Line between The Hague and Zoetermeer
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Extention of the the Rotterdam Metro Erasmuslijn to The Hague Central Station
The RandstadRail - Erasmuslijn extention is relevant to the discussion of a PATCO Light Rail system, and serves as a model for implementation.
The Rotterdam Metro & RandstadRail - Erasmuslijn Extension
The Erasmuslijn (designated Line D in 2009) is the major north-south Metro service for the City of Rotterdam. Metro trains currently run between the northern terminus at Rotterdam Central Station and De Akkers Metro station located southwest of the city center. The existing line has no level intersections with streets and utilizes a third rail for current collection.
Rotterdam also has an east-west Metro line. The Calandlijn features two (2) northeast branches (designated Lines A & B) that operate at grade through level intersections with streets while taking power from overhead wires. The Calandlijn main trunk has no level intersections and utilizes a third rail for current collection. The railcars are designed to collect current from both third rail and overhead wires, and the change between the two systems occurs enroute while in motion.
In November 2006, the first phase of the RandstadRail Erasmuslijn extention (designated Line E) opened between The Rotterdam Hofplein station and The Hague Central Station. The former NS (Nederland Spoorweg - the national rail carrier) Hofpleinlijn was converted from a conventional railroad service to metro operation. This service provides four (4) trains per hour, and features an overhead power supply system and level intersections with streets along the twenty (20) mile route. A group of Calandlijn trains were redeployed to provide initial service, followed by new rolling stock in 2008. The new RandstadRail infrastructure is compatible with the standards of the Rotterdam Metro. Conversion of the Hofpleinlijn to RandstadRail operation has resulted in dramatic passenger increases when compared with the previous NS services.
The second phase included a two (2) mile long tunnel. This tunnel connected the previous Erasmuslijn terminal at Rotterdam Central Station with the RandstadRail line north of the Hofplein Station. In December 2011, the RandstadRail line was integrated with Rotterdam Metro operations. RandstadRail service terminates at Slinge station on the Erasmuslijn, eight (8) stops south of Rotterdam Central Station.
More information is available at the RandstadRail Website (in Dutch)