RandstadRail Emerges from the Shadows

This article describes how August marked the completion of RandstadRail with the opening of an underground connection to the Rotterdam metro. The article examines how RandstadtRail has overcome early difficulties to become a modern and reliable network. With the opening of the 2.9km metro tunnel between Rotterdam Central and Kleiweg, the protracted and sometimes painful construction of RandstadRail was finally completed. The project involved the conversion of two heavy rail lines into light rail, and creating connections with the tram network in The Hague, and Rotterdam's metro network for through operations. The aim of RandstadRail is to meet the demands of regional passenger by offering higher frequencies and improved access to the city centers. It is also anticipated that RandstadtRail with bring significant new urban development, which is expected to result in much higher passenger number in the future. For this reason some extensions have been constructed, and more are planned.