The end of the first day 20230508--067

Rotterdam Metro three-section articulated unit 5507 is about to depart from the high level RandstadRail platforms at Den Haag Centraal, with the 22.12 Metrolijn E service back to Slinge in Rotterdam. I'd just alighted from its inward journey, having travelled from Rotterdam Centraal.

The RandstadRail operation began in 2006 and 2007 on the former NS heavy rail lines from Den Haag Centraal to Zoetermeer and Rotterdam Hofplein (the Zoetermeer Stadslijn and the Hofpleinlijn); the latter was subsequently diverted via new tunnels to connect with the Rotterdam Metro, with the line into Hofplein station closing. RET (the Rotterdam pubic transport company) operates the line from Rotterdam to Den Haag, using high-floor Bombardier-built "Flexity Swift" light rail vehicles (as shown here). Meanwhile, Den Haag public transport company HTM operates the Zoetermeer line (which includes an extension) using low-floor Alstom-built "RegioCitadis" light rail vehicles, which can also run over parts of the Den Haag tram network.

At the Den Haag end, the high-floor RET-operated service (Rotterdam's Metrolijn E) runs via a new viaduct into this two-platform terminus parallel to the NS platforms at Den Haag Centraal (albeit at a much higher level), while the HTM services use a different viaduct to access elevated platforms above the concourse of the NS station, at right-angles to the NS tracks, before using another viaduct to run further into the city and eventually in the street.

This was almost the end of the first day of my twelve-day trip to Europe for the Branch Line Society four-day railtour in southern Poland. I'd left the UK the previous evening on the overnight ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland, and planned to spend the day gricing trams around Den Haag before setting off across Europe the following day. I'd booked a hotel two minutes' from Den Haag HS station, and I began the day by heading for the hotel to drop off my luggage (after doing the fairly new Rotterdam Metro line one stop to its terminus at Hoek van Holland Strand - I'd previously done the line when it was still NS trains), travelling between Rotterdam and Den Haag on this route as I was using a Tourist Ticket for South Holland which wasn't valid on NS trains.

However, after booking my hotel I learned that several routes of the Rotterdam tram network had recently been proposed for closure before 2030, so actually ended up spending most of the day in Rotterdam, trying to travel on as many of those lines as was possible in the time, as well as doing some connections which were temporarily available as a result of line closures caused by major sewer works. It was therefore well after 10pm when I finally checked into my hotel (after a short tram journey from here), but finished the day's gricing with a run round a loop right beside the hotel - simply because I was there!

The next morning I set off across the Netherlands and Germany to Kassel, where I spent a full day exploring the tram network, and then the following day continued to Wrocław in Poland, where the BLS tour would start the day after that.

Unfortunately, it was foggy when the ship docked in the morning and, while the fog cleared, the sun didn't really make an appearance all day (there were a few brighter spells early in the afternoon), so I only took record photos today which I don't think will make it onto Flickr...

This shot was taken held-held, unfortunately after the driver had changed ends and illuminated the headlights at this end. All trains were using this platform, and access to the other one was blocked off. Only after uploading this image did I notice the proper low platform between the two tracks, presumably for use by the HTM RandstadRail routes if their normal route is closed.

Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.

Taken on: May 8, 2023

Tags:

Rotterdam

metro

Den Haag

Centraal

RandstadRail

Holland

Netherlands

Dutch

Bombardier

Flexity Swift « less

Sets appears in: • May 2023 European Trip (for BLS Poland tour)

Groups appears in: • metros (around the world) • After Dark - Night Photography more » • Urban Rail • Night Rails • (MONDE) Trams et Métros • ESTACIONES DE TREN - Railway Station. • Train & Ambiance « less

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