Draft:Line 50 (Amsterdam Metro)

Line 50
A M5 series train on line 50, at the Spaklerweg viaduct
Overview
Native nameMetrolijn 50 / Ringlijn
Owner Amsterdam Metro
LocaleAmsterdam
Termini
Stations20
Color on mapGreen  
Service
TypeRapid transit
Operator(s)Amsterdam Metro
Rolling stockSerie S3 (2 cars)
Serie M5 (6 cars)
Serie M7 (3 cars)
History
Opened28 May 1997; 27 years ago (28 May 1997)
Technical
Line length20.5 km (12.7 mi)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC (third rail)
Operating speed70 km/h (45 mph)
Route map

Line 50 (Amsterdam Metro)
Isolatorweg
0
Sloterdijk
2
Burg. de Vlugtlaan
4
Jan v. Galenstraat
5
Postjesweg
7
Lelylaan
8
Heemstedestraat
9
Henk Sneevlietweg
10
Amstelveenseweg
14
Zuid
16
RAI
17
Overamstel
20
Van der Madeweg
22
Duivendrecht
24
Strandvliet
25
Bijlmer ArenA
26
Bullewijk
27
Holendrecht
29
Reigersbos
31
Gein
33

Metro Line 50 (Dutch: Metrolijn 50) is a line of the Amsterdam Metro between the Isolatorweg and the Gein district in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Although the line is a tangential line, it is also known as the Ring Line (Ringlijn), because the embankment of the Ringspoorbaan ("ring railway") is used between Sloterdijk station and the Rozenoordspoorbrug.

Services

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Route Train Frequency
Rush-hour and daytime Morning till 7:00, evenings after 20:00 and weekends till 10:00 Evenings till 20:00 and weekends after 10:00 Midsummer Rush-hour and daytime Midsummer mornings till 07:00, evenings and weekends
Gein ↔ Isolatorweg 10 minutes 15 minutes 12 minutes 12 minutes 15 minutes

In principle, 3 coupled sets operate on line 50 from Monday to Friday (also in the evenings) and 2 coupled sets on Saturdays and Sundays. Until November 1998, single sets operated on Sundays and all evenings. Around 2000, 4 coupled sets were scheduled for a short time, but due to a shortage of rolling stock, these were soon discontinued. In the period 2013–2015, the CAF sets were partially replaced and the LHB rolling stock completely replaced by the M5 rolling stock, which has a much larger capacity than 3 CAF sets. M7 rolling stock has also been in service since 2023. From 3 March 2019 to mid-March 2024, the S1/S2 light rail rolling stock also operated.

Station list

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Line Transfers Borough
Isolatorweg Westpoort
Station Sloterdijk
De Vlugtlaan Nieuw-West
Jan van Galenstraat
Postjesweg
Station Lelylaan
Heemstedestraat
Henk Sneevlietweg
Amstelveenseweg Zuid
Station Zuid
Station RAI
Overamstel Oost
Van der Madeweg Ouder-Amstel
Station Duivendrecht
Strandvliet Zuidoost
Station Bijlmer ArenA
Bullewijk
Station Holendrecht
Reigersbos
Gein

History

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A former M1 series EMU near the Heemstedestraat station, 2008

The construction was decided upon by the Amsterdam city council in 1992. For political reasons, the line was initially called the "ring rapid tram"; since the Nieuwmarkt riots in 1975, the term "metro" had been more or less taboo in Amsterdam politics. Construction of the line began in 1992. Originally, the section between Zuid station and Sloterdijk was to be equipped with overhead lines, but this was later abandoned and the entire line was given a third rail.[1]

Initially, the GVB did not have high expectations of transport outside peak hours and even considered not operating the line in the evenings and on Sundays if the government would not guarantee the operating deficit. In the end, this did happen. The line was officially opened by Minister Jorritsma on 28 May 1997 and was put into use for passenger transport on 1 June. Due to problems with the rolling stock and security, only a limited fifteen-minute service could initially be operated, but despite this, bus line 48, which was replaced by line 50, was discontinued. After the summer, the frequency was increased to a ten-minute service and the full service could only be operated with the winter service.

The route starts at Isolatorweg station. To the east of the station is a four-track tail track. This was expanded in 2014 to a large marshalling yard where minor maintenance can also be carried out on metro vehicles. Some of these extra tracks were laid on either side of the metro station. From Sloterdijk, the line runs north–south parallel to the western branch of the Ringspoorbaan. After Henk Sneevlietweg station, the route bends almost perpendicularly to the east, and then runs west–east parallel to the southern branch of the Ringspoorbaan and the Ringweg-Zuid (A10). Zuid station is reached via Amstelveenseweg station. After this, the line follows the route of metro/light rail line 51, which opened in 1990 (since March 2019 metro line 51, which runs from Isolatorweg together with line 50) to beyond Overamstel station.

Via two single-track viaducts, which were awarded the Concrete Prize in 1995, the line connects to the existing line 54 at Van der Madeweg station in a south-easterly direction to Gein station. Contrary to what the name suggests, there is therefore no ring at all. It is actually a tangential line. There are plans to extend the route beyond Isolatorweg, but the form is still undecided. Initially, the line was to be extended to Amsterdam Centraal station in 2005, which would close the ring. The plans were then postponed until 2010. In the Amsterdam Public Transport Vision 2007-2020[2] it was announced that there are several options after the extension to the Houthavens: instead of the previously planned extension to Amsterdam Centraal, preference would be given to extending via a tunnel under the IJ to Noorderpark station, part of the North/South Line. Amsterdam had its hands full with the latter line, and it is unlikely that the extension of the Ring Line will commence in the short term.

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References

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  1. ^ Project leader ring line
  2. ^ "Amsterdamse OV-visie 2007-2020" (PDF). 4 May 2013.