Rotterdam Metro

The Rotterdam Metro (Dutch: Rotterdamse metro) is a rapid transit system operated in Rotterdam, Netherlands and surrounding municipalities by RET. The first line, called Noord – Zuidlijn (North – South line) opened in 1968 and ran from Centraal Station to Zuidplein, crossing the river Nieuwe Maas in a tunnel. It was the first metro system to open in the Netherlands. At the time it was also one of the shortest metro lines in the world with a length of only 5.9 km (3.7 mi).

Rotterdam Metro
Wilhelminaplein metro station, Lines D and E
Overview
Native nameRotterdamse metro
LocaleRotterdam, Netherlands
Transit typeRapid transit and light rail
Number of lines5
Number of stations70
Annual ridership96 million (2018)
WebsiteRET (in English)
Operation
Began operation9 February 1968
Operator(s)RET
Number of vehicles167
Technical
System length102.3 km (63.6 mi)
Electrification750 V DC

In 1982 a second line was opened, the Oost – Westlijn (East – West line), running between Capelsebrug and Coolhaven stations. In the late 1990s, the lines were named after two historic Rotterdam citizens, the Erasmus Line (North – South) after Desiderius Erasmus and the Caland Line (East – West) after Pieter Caland. As of December 2009, these names were dropped again in favour of a combination of letters and colours, to emphasise and clarify the difference between the separate branches, especially of the former East – West line.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.