Amsterdam Metro

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The lines of the Amsterdam metro

Amsterdam Metro is a rapid transit system in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB) operates the system, along with the Amsterdam trams, ferries and a number of bus lines. All of these systems use the national strippenkaart ticketing system, and tickets on one form of transport are valid on the others.

There are three main lines in the metro system: the Eastern line, the Amstelveen line and the Ring line. The Eastern line connects Amsterdam Centraal station to the southeastern suburbs of Amsterdam Zuidoost and Bijlmermeer areas, and has two branches, line 53 and line 54. The Amstelveen line (line 51) connects Amsterdam Centraal Station to the southern suburbs surrounding Amstelveen, and the Ring Line (line 50) connects the south-east to the west without going through the centre of the city.

The metro system uses standard gauge track, operating on 750 V DC third rail. Line 51 is a hybrid between metro and light rail, as it uses shared metro track between Amsterdam Centraal and Zuid, and shared tram track between Zuid and Amstelveen Centrum, continuing with the tram-style overhead at 600 V DC to Westwijk. Dual height platforms are provided at the overlapping stops for metro line 51 and tram line 5 vehicles.

1 History and future
2 Network
3 See also
4 References
5 External link

[edit] History and future

Amsterdam decided on the construction of a metro system in 1968. Four lines were to be built, connecting the entire city and replacing many of the existing tram lines.

In 1970 the construction of the eastern line was started and it came into operation in 1977. This eastern line consists of two branches, line 53 and 54, to link the city centre with housing developments in the south-east. During the construction, plans to demolish the entire Jewish neighbourhood near the Nieuwmarkt led to strong protests. The metro was still built (wall decorations at the Nieuwmarkt station are dedicated to the protests), but plans to build a highway through the neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam were abolished. The line had to be finished by the national government.

In 1990 line 51 was opened, partially sharing track with the previous metro lines, and new track with the extended tram line 5 to Amstelveen. This is referred to as a 'Sneltram' (fast tram), and was constructed to light rail standards. The changeover between third rail and overhead power takes place at Zuid.

In 1997 the ring line (50) was added to the system, providing a fast connection between the south and the west, eliminating the necessity of travelling through the city centre.

In 2002, the construction of the North/South Line was started, which is due to be completed in July 2012. The new metro line will be the first to go to the northern Amsterdam district, underneath the IJ bay. From there on, it will run, via Central Station to Zuid train station, which is planned to replace Amsterdam Centraal as the city's main transport hub. This line might be extended to Schiphol airport in the future.^[1]

The tram line to IJburg in the east was originally planned to be a metro line, and a short tunnel was constructed eastwards from Centraal Station underneath the railway lines towards this goal. As this line was eventually constructed as a tram line, the tunnel had been abandoned, and there are plans to use it as part of a museum of chocolate. There are still plans for the tram to IJburg to be upgraded to metro and connect to the nearby city of Almere, where big new residential areas are being built.^[2]

[edit] Network

[edit] Line 50 (green)

Line 50: Isolatorweg - Gein
Isolatorweg - Sloterdijk NS - De Vlugtlaan - Van Galenstraat - Postjesweg - Lelylaan NS - Heemstedestraat - Sneevlietweg - Amstelveenseweg - Zuid NS - RAI NS - Overamstel - Van der Madeweg - Duivendrecht NS - Standvliet/Arena - Bijlmer NS - Bullewijk - Holendrecht - Reigersbos - Gein

[edit] Line 51 (orange)

Line 51: Centraal Station - Amstelveen Westwijk
Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstel NS - Spaklerweg - Overamstel - RAI NS - Zuid - De Boelelaan/VU - A.J. Ernststraat - Van Boshuizenstraat - Uilenstede - Kronenburg - Zonnestein - Onderuit - Oranjebaan - Amstelveen Centrum - Ouderkerkerlaan - Sportlaan - Marne - Gondel - Meent - Brink - Poortwachter - Spinnerij - Sacharovlaan - Westwijk

[edit] Line 52 (blue, under construction)

Future line 52 (North/South Line): Buikslotermeerplein – Zuid NS
Buikslotermeerplein - Van Hasseltweg - Centraal Station - Rokin - Vijzelgracht - Ceintuurbaan - RAI NS / Europaplein - Zuid NS

[edit] Line 53 (red)

Line 53: Centraal Station - Gaasperplas
Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Venserpolder - Diemen Zuid NS - Verrijn Stuartweg - Ganzenhoef - Kraaiennest - Gaasperplas

[edit] Line 54 (yellow)

Line 54: Centraal Station - Gein
Centraal Station - Nieuwmarkt - Waterlooplein - Weesperplein - Wibautstraat - Amstelstation - Spaklerweg - Van der Madeweg - Duivendrecht NS - Standvliet/Arena - Bijlmer NS - Bullewijk - Holendrecht - Reigersbos - Gein