Innovative Amstelveen line transforms into Amstel streetcar

The Amstelveen Line, the former express streetcar 51, was far ahead of its time when it came into operation in 1990. That also proved to be its shortcoming. The combination of light rail and subway was an innovative solution, but in the past thirty years it has been prone to breakdowns. Traffic safety around the line also left much to be desired. Reason enough for a large-scale renovation operation in an extremely short period of, say, two years. An interview with Rob Ellermeijer, alderman for the municipality of Amstelveen, about the (technical) challenges of the new Amstel streetcar.

The former express streetcar 51 between Westwijk and Amsterdam Zuid station is being converted into a safe, fast and reliable streetcar connection. The renovation is being commissioned by the Transport Region of Amsterdam and is being realized by Metro and Tram of the municipality of Amsterdam. The main contractor is VITAL, a partnership of the VolkerWessels companies Van Hattum and Blankevoort, VolkerRail and KWS. The renewal operation will cost 300 million euros. Of this, the Amsterdam Transport Region and the municipalities of Amstelveen and Amsterdam are paying 225 million euros. The remaining 75 million euros will be paid by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.

In just six weeks, with no streetcars 5 and 6 running, the underpasses at Kronenburg and Zonnestein were completed.

Complications

It turned out not to be the "egg of Columbus" after all, the combination of light rail and metro for the Amstelveen line. "In Amsterdam, the 51 ran as a subway and then continued as an express streetcar in Amstelveen from Buitenveldert," Ellermeijer begins. "That brought with it the necessary complications in the power supply, the catenary regularly 'popped' out. Because a subway is wider than an express streetcar, the 51 was equipped with an extra running board. This technique, too, proved sensitive to malfunctions. On top of that, the 51 was often overcrowded and traffic safety was not optimal with several level crossings. After the renewal operation, line 51 will transform into the Amstel streetcar with three level crossings and fewer stops. Rails, switches, overhead wires and technical systems will also be renewed or undergo major maintenance. All in all, we will soon guarantee a reliable and very fast connection from Amstelveen to Amsterdam Zuid. From there, passengers can transfer to the North/South line to Amsterdam Central, among other things."

After the renewal operation, line 51 will transform to the Amstel streetcar with three flyovers and fewer stops.

IJsco

The entire renewal operation will therefore take roughly two years. The first shovel went into the ground in the fall of 2018 and the Amstel streetcar should be operational by the end of 2020. "We explicitly chose such a short period in order to keep the inconvenience to a minimum," Ellermeijer continues. "That was also the reason why we planned as much work as possible last summer that would slightly slow down the flow of traffic. In just six weeks, during which no streetcars 5 and 6 were running, the underpasses at Kronenburg and Zonnestein were completed. A matter of tight planning and seamless execution. Incidentally, also with regard to the work outside that period, because streetcar lines 5 and 6 simply run on a route that is undergoing major reconstruction. Extra measures have therefore been taken when it comes to safety. Good communication and coordination with stakeholders is crucial in this. We have received many compliments on this, also from the surrounding area. The appreciation for what is happening is very high. Neighbors regularly treated the construction workers to ice cream during the summer heat."

Rob Ellermeijer, Amstelveen City Councilor.

Deployment of Smart Mobility

Coordination and cooperation between the Amsterdam Transport Region, the City of Amsterdam, the Municipality of Amstelveen, main contractor VITAL, the project organization, etc., is also running smoothly. "We have intensive consultations and know how to find each other seamlessly, so that a quick switch can be made in case of any unforeseen circumstances," says Ellermeijer. Also unique is the Local Traffic Control (LTC) system. "As the municipality of Amstelveen, we have explicitly focused on accessibility. The LTC system is connected to Google Maps, Flitsmeister and other navigation software and 'navigates' people from A to B, taking into account reconstruction and road closures. This is how we try to make the renovation run as smoothly as possible."