ROTTERDAM INVESTS IN RAIL TRANSIT

The Dutch city of Rotterdam is investing heavily to improve and expand its urban rail network. Construction will begin in Summer 1997 of a new 11km line, to extend Rotterdam's existing east-west metro/light rail line to link with the north-south line. The extension will have six stations, and be partly elevated and partly underground. When it opens in 2002, the new line will connect the Schiedam area to the metro for the first time, and provide an urgently needed second crossing of the Nieuwe Maas River. Congestion on the metro will be relieved, and there will be capacity for further growth. The capacity of the metro's busiest station, Beurs, is being doubled; its platforms have already been widened, additional escalators are being installed, and its ticket hall is being expanded and refurbished. A new fleet of faster, quieter trains has been ordered for the north-south line. Rotterdam's light rail and tram network will be improved and extended in the TramPlus project, which will be implemented in phases up to 2000. Several organisations are collaborating on the RandstadRail project, which aims to connect the rail networks of Rotterdam, The Hague, and Zoetermeer. Work will include the conversion of two railway lines for light rail operation and linking to the tram network. A map of existing and proposed lines is included.