The Hague Semi-metro

The Hague Semi-metro
The Hague Semi-metro
Semi-metro (light rail)
	RegioCitadis of RandstadRail for the lines 3, 4 and 34 leaving the Beatrixkwartier station
Operation
Locale	The Hague, Netherlands

The Hague semi-metro is a light rail system in the form of a semi-metro in The Hague, the Netherlands.^[1] It is used by Lines 2, 3, 4, 6 and 34 of the local tram network. Three linked sections were constructed for the core of this network: the viaduct with the tram stations Centraal Station (CS) and Ternoot, the tram tunnel^[2] and the viaduct through the Beatrixkwartier office area.

The semi-metro started in 1976 with the viaduct over CS and Ternoot. On semi-metro routes, tram vehicles run in tunnels and/or on viaducts in the city centre and otherwise largely on free tracks. It consists of five stations, and is operated by HTM Personenvervoer. As long as the conversion of the tram network to metro standards has not been completed, it is called semi-metro.^[3]

The Hague Semi-metro is mainly inspired by the Brussels Premetro, as well as other systems. During the planning^[4] and partially construction^[5] the Brussels system was referred to as "semi-metro". The German concept Stadtbahn (in Cologne for example) is comparable to the situation in The Hague: with tunnels and viaducts.^[6] Friedrich Lehner (who also set up the Hanover Stadtbahn) introcuced the concept in The Hague in 1964. Plans were formalised in 1969 in the plan called Nota Openbaar Vervoer 1969.

Network

The viaduct with the stations Centraal Station (CS) and Ternoot was opened in 1976. A 1.25-kilometre (0.78 mi) city centre tunnel for trams was opened in March 2004. The tunnel incorporates two underground stations: Spui and Grote Markt.^[7] The branch line towards Zoetermeer opened on 29 October 2006 for RandstadRail line 4, and on 20 October 2007 for RandstadRail line 3 and includes the Beatrixkwartier station.

The elevated viaduct includes a branch line for RandstadRail trams that connects to the former Hofpleinlijn near Den Haag Laan van NOI railway station. Trams on RandstadRail lines 3, 4 and 34 use this connecting line. East of Laan van NOI they share tracks and stations with Rotterdam Metro line E trains as far as Leidschendam-Voorburg before diverting onto the former Zoetermeer Stadslijn towards Zoetermeer.

Additionally a tunnel with one underground station was opened in 2010 solely for Line 19. It wasn't mentioned in the 1964 plan nor in the final 1969 plan.

Safety

From the opening of the first section in 1976, the tracks were equipped with signalling and motorised switches. Control was provided by the Central Traffic Control Centrale Verkeersleiding (CVL) via an intercom.^[8] This system was renewed in 2004, additional to the signalling system, a system on the trams was installed that can intervene independently. This system Automatische Rem Installatie or ARI (Automatic Brake Installation), will stop a tram when it is travelling faster than the speed indicated by the signals.^[9]

Fleet

Avenio crossing the A12 Motorway

As of 2024, the fleet consists of approximately 200 trams of three types:

GTL8: eight-axle, three-section articulated trams. They have a red-and-beige livery and are uni-directional with a cab at only one end. The 147 trams were built by La Brugeoise et Nivelles in Bruges, Belgium in two generations. About sixty are available for revenue service:
- GTL8-I, 100 first-generation trams delivered from 1981-1984
- GTL8-II, 47 second-generation trams delivered from 1992-1993
Avenio: four-section, 100% low-floor trams. They have the red-and-white R-net livery and are bi-directional with cabs on both ends. 70 trams (40 trams ordered in 2011, 20 in 2014 and another 10 in 2017) were built by Siemens Mobility in Germany from 2014 onwards, and have been gradually replacing the older GTL8 trams since 2015.
RegioCitadis: three-section, 70% low-floor light rail/tram-train vehicles with dual-voltage capabilities. They have the blue-and-white RandstadRail livery and are also bi-directional. 72 trams were built by Alstom in Salzgitter, Germany, of which 54 entered service in 2006-2007 and a further 18 in 2011. They are used as tram-trains on the lines to Zoetermeer but also on line 19 between Leidschendam and Delft.