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 of The Netherlands and 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:

1. Route #3 Tram Line to Zoetermeer

2. Route #4 Tram Line to Zoetermeer

3. Extention of the the Rotterdam Metro Erasmuslijn

The RandstadRail - Erasmus Line 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 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 northeast branches 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 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 inital service. 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 includes a two (2) mile long tunnel that is nearing completion.  This new tunnel will connect the the current Erasmuslijn terminal at Rotterdam Central Station with the RandstadRail line north of the Hofplein Station.  A short segment of the Hofpleinlijn will then be abandoned.  When complete in late 2009, the RandstadRail line will be integrated with Rotterdam Metro operations and will terminate at Slinge station on the Erasmuslijn, eight (8) stops south of Rotterdam Central Station.

More information is available at the RandstadRail Website (in Dutch) 

At Right: Computer generated image of proposed PATCO Light Rail station in Woodbury (Parsons-Brinckerhoff)