InTramCities with Gordon Stewart : Closed tramway Alignments
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Substantial
changes took place to the Rotterdam tram network on 6th January 2025.
Following a report issued in February 2023 regarding a plan for the
future of the network with an outlook to 2030, significant changes were
proposed, many of which were adopted. The rationale of the changes were
to build on earlier plans to upgrade the system and in effect
simplifying it. New routes and route numbers were introduced and trams
were withdrawn from a number of sections of route although not all of
those originally proposed. The aim of the changes was to speed up
services and allow improved frequencies on the new core routes
including by eliminating some tram stops and reducing the number of
conflicts between tram lines at major junctions.
- Tracks in Scheepstimmermannslaan, Westerstraat and
the one-way loop to the terminus at Wilhelmsplein via Maasstraat and
Wilhelmskade, severing the connection from the city's main network at
Vasteland from 6th January 2025
- Tracks in Vasteland between Vasteland tram stop and Leuvenhaven from 6th January 2025
- Tracks on Zaagmolenstraat and Benthuizerstraat (including Zwaanhals and Benthuizerstraat tram stops) from 6th January 2025
No replacement buses. Remaining services deemed close enough
Zaagmolenstraat
Closure
of this link results in both the routes from Kleiweg and Molenlaan
following the same route between Rotterdam Noord station and Rotterdam
Centraal station. The Kleiweg line had previously been routed along the
closed section to approach the city along the same alignement as the
Woudestein route. This speeds up the link between Kleiweg and Centraal
at the expense of not serving a range of stops in the east side of the
city centre.
Vasteland
Vasteland
tram stop lay at the junction of Vasteland (from the east), Westzeedijk
(from the west), Eendrachtsweg (from the north) and
Scheepstimmermannslaan (from the south). It was served by routes
running west-east, north-east and north-south. The revised
network features one route only running west-north from Westzeedijk
into Eendrachtsweg and hence to Rotterdam Centraal station and
terminating in the north of the city at Schiebroek.
Services
were removed from Vasteland to Leuvenhaven along Vasteland and to
Wilhelmsplein along Scheepstimmermannslaan, the latter removing the
street-running services from the riverside Scheepvaart neighbourhood
and the former being only a very short stretch of track even if on a
broad road and on a central reservation but allowing a link to the
major city centre tram stops of Beurs and Stadhuis.
It
remains to be seen whether the track and overhead will be
removed. There are other examples of track removed from revenue
service remaining and wired :
Middellandplein - Mathenesserlaan along
Claes de Vrieselaan (the continuation of Claes de Vrieselaan
south to Rochussenstraat retains tracks but is unwired. Onwards to
Coolhaven, the track has been lifted)
Schieweg - Diergaarde Blijdorp along Stadhouderskade and van Aerssenlaan
Schiekade - Eudopiaplein along Bergweg
Bentickplein - Tiendplein along Statenweg and Henegauerlaan
Diergaarde Blijdorp - Schiekade along Benticklaan, Waldenburgerweg, Stationssingel and Provenierssingel
Putsebocht
- Varkenoorse Viadukt along Putselaan and 2e Rosestraat (track now
lifted at 2e Rosestraat due to redevelopment of the area)
Meent - Ostplein along Goudesingel
Ostplein - Boezemsingel along Boezemweg
Nieuwe Binnenweg - Mathenesserplein along Mathenesserlaan
Heemraadsplein - Delfthaven along Nieuwe Binnenweg and Schiedamseweg
Most
of these have been pursuant to Rotterdam's "TramPlus" planning policy
first established in 1993. This envisaged a reduced but upgraded tram
network alongside further development of the Metro system although the
recent closure at Heemraadsplein appears more opportunistic. A number
of lines envisaged for closure under TramPlus but as yet not
implemented remain at risk.
Above : A tram leaves Scheepstimmermannslaan from the now-closed service from Wilhelmsplein
Above and below : A westbound tram on the now-closed short section of line in Vasteland at Vasteland tram stop
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