A new Light Rail Transit will beintroduced in the Dutch province Zuid Holland: RandstadRail. RandstadRail will connect the city of The Hague with Zoetermeer (2007) and Rotterdam (2008). RandstadRail is a hybrid rail system and combines the infrastructure of 'classic' rail systems. In The Hague RandstadRail uses existing tram and train infrastructure. In Rotterdam it uses existing metro and train infrastructure. In both cities missing links between the 'classic' rail systems are added. RandstadRail builds a strong case for transforming existing rail systems throughout Europe. The introduction of RandstadRail will increase the number of passengers three- to fourfold over the services that preceded it.
RandstadRail is a clear example of the Light Rail Transit (regiotram or tram-train) innovation sweeping Europe. In The Hague RandstadRail uses parts of the urban tram network and it uses a former regional rail line, the Zoetermeerlijn. In Rotterdam RandstadRail uses a part of the metro network and it uses another former regional rail line, the Hofpleinlijn. In fact RandstadRail combines two variations, marketed as one: The Hague version of the RandstadRail and the Rotterdam version. The Hague's RandstadRail starts in 2007 its operation. It uses low floor vehicles. The Rotterdam RandstadRail starts in 2008 its services. It uses high floor vehicles. Both versions of RandstadRail share five stations in the municipalities The Hague and Leidschendam-Voorburg. These station are utilised with both low and high platforms.
The two regional rail lines that became part of RandstadstadRail (Zoetermeerlijn
and Hofpleinlijn) used to be integral parts of the national rail network. Until
2006 the Netherlands Railways operated both lines with so-called Sprinter rail
vehicles. In 2006 the transition towards RandstadRail began. The Sprinter service
was terminated. Busses replaced the rail service. The RandstadRail was expected
to start services in September, but testing was not finished by then. Over
the period October - November, after some hick-ups, the new service started.
The rail vehicles derailed. The operation was temporally halted. After a second
start another two derailments took place wounding over 20 passengers. The system
was shut down and remained closed well into early 2007. RandstadRail will probably
go back into service during early spring 2007.
The transition from Sprinter into RandstadRail will be complete in 2008 when the Rotterdam metro (Erasmuslijn) will be intgrated in the network. By then the RandstadRail is said to operate three RandstadRail services. The services will link The Hague West with Zoetermeer. One service will link The Hague Central with Rotterdam.
Rail network Zuid-Holland, situation 2004
Rail network Zuid-Holland, situation 2008
RandstadRail at Den Haag Centraal by Benthem Crouwel
The implementation of the RandstadRail is closely related to the transformation of the Den Haag Centraal public transport hub and a similar transformation of the Rotterdam Centraal public transport hub.
The Hague's RandstadRail system will start in 2006 with two lines serving connections between The Hague and Zoetermeer. Two civil engineering works enable the integration in The Hague: the 'Souterrain' and the 'Netkous'.
Souterrain: architecture by OMA and interior by Lab-da
Between 1999 and 2004 a tram tunnel was build in The Hague's centre. This city-tunnel elevates capacity problems and it accommodates the RandstadRail vehicles. The Souterrain is built as a combined parking and public transport facility. Its overall architecture was designed by OMA, its interior by Lab-da. Both the superior architecture and interior demonstrate that a high quality built environment can be achieved underground. With its two underground stations the Souterrain provides the RandstadRail seamless access to The Hague's main shopping and office district.
RandstadRail station Beatrixlaan in The Hague by Zwarts & Jansma
Since 2006 a viaduct is in place that connects the regional rail line with the tram net. Its nick name 'Netkous' (Net stocking) refers to the remarkable steel structure. The Netkous includes the station Beatrixlaan in the Utrechtse Baan office district. Viaduct and station are designed by Zwarts & Jansma.
The travel time between Zoetermeer and The Hague's central station will roughly remain the same. The overall quality of the system will increase: new regiotram vehicles, an increased frequency. The city-tunnel and high line tap directly into high density urban areas that are currently not served. These improvements will result in a significant increase in ridership. Originally only 17.000 passengers used the Sprinter on a daily basis. From 2006 on this number will grow rapidly to a staggering 42.000.
| Vehicle | ALSTOM RegioCitadis |
| Vehicle type | Bi-directional vehicle |
| Power supply | 600V DC / 750V DC |
| Vehicle length | 36.762 mm |
| Vehicle width | 2650 mm |
| Vehicle height | 3650 mm |
| Floor height | 415 mm (75%), 665 mm (25%) |
| Minimum radius | 23 m |
| Maximum speed | 80 km/h |
| Doors per side | 5 |
| Seats/folding seats | 72/14 |
| Standing facilities | 130 |
| Multipurpose areas | 2 |
| Maximum distance | ±30 km: Loosduinen-Centrum West |
Two years after the opening of the first two RandstadRail lines a third regiotram line connects Rotterdam city centre with Den Haag Centraal, The Hague's main transit-hub. It will use the so-called Hofpleinlijn to bridge the distance of roughly 20 kilometre.
The Hofpleinlijn (Rotterdam - The Hague) was one of the most advanced rail lines of its time, being the first connection in mainland European using electricity instead of steam. The line enabled those who could afford it to live in The Hague's lofty suburbs (with their lower municipal taxes) and work in Rotterdam. Soon after the war these wealthy commuters were the first who would buy their own car. And the use of the Hofpleinlijn gradually diminished to only 7000 passengers a day, even after adopting the Sprinter concept.
RandstadRail station Statenweg in Rotterdam, design by Maarten StruijsAgain, that picture is being changed. In the spring of 2006 the Hofpleinlijn is disconnected from the national network. From 2008 on the Statenwegtunnel connects the rail line with the Rotterdam metro, creating a direct link between The Hague and the major metro stations in the Rotterdam centre, including the Rotterdam Centraal and Beurs transit-hubs. New stations include the underground Statenweg station and the elevated Melanchtonweg station. Because of its high floor the Rotterdam RandstadRail can't use the Souterrain, instead it terminates at Den Haag Centraal. The use of the line is expected to grow to 28.000 passengers daily, an increase with a factor four!
| Vehicle | Bombardier FLEXITY Swift |
| Vehicle type | Bi-directional vehicle |
| Power supply | 750V DC |
| Vehicle length | 41.710 mm |
| Vehicle width | 2664 mm |
| Vehicle height | 3705 mm |
| Floor height | 1000 mm |
| Minimum radius | 120 m |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h |
| Doors per side | 7 |
| Seats | 104 |
| Standing facilities | 166 |
| Multipurpose areas | 2 |
| Maximum distance | ±30 km:Den Haag Centraal-Slinge |
Flexity Swift by Bombardier
After the RandstadRail starts using the Statenwegtunnel in 2008 the 1,9 kilometre long monumental high line, part of the Hofpleinlijn in Rotterdam, will become obsolete. A partnership of four Rotterdam based housing associations called 'Hofbogen' takes over the economic (2006) and the juridical (2009) ownership of the structure. Hofbogen's main interest is to transform the Hofpleinlijn in such a way that it becomes an impulse for the safety and quality of life of the neighbourhoods it runs through. The project, originally initiated by CityCorp includes the upgrade of the 140 business units that are part of the structure. But the most spectacular reuse might come from the elevated track itself. Ideas still have to be developed but Hofbogen frequently to refer other examples as the New York High Line and the Promenade Plantée in Paris.
Sprinter vehicle on the current Hofpleinlijn high line
