Trams in Amsterdam
Encyclopedia
The Amsterdam tramway network forms part of the public transport
system in Amsterdam
, the capital of the Netherlands
.
Opened in 1875, the network currently has 16 lines. It has been operated since 1943 by Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
(GVB).
On 3 June 1875, Amsterdam's first horse-drawn
tramway was opened. It linked Plantage
with the Leidseplein
, and was operated by AOM (Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij), which had been founded in 1872 by Karel Herman Schadd, amongst others.
In the last quarter of the 19th century, horse trams ran through the main streets of Amsterdam, linking all neighborhoods inside the Singelgracht with Dam Square
. Horse tram lines also ran out to the then new housing districts. By the end of the century, about 15 lines led to or from the Vondelstraat, Overtoom, Willemsparkweg, Amsteldijk, Linnaeusstraat, Weesperzijde, Bilderdijkstraat and Ceintuurbaan.
The routes of the original horse tram lines can still clearly be recognised in the present day tram lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10 and 13.
Between 1900 and 1906, all but one of the existing tram lines was electrified. Additionally, the AOM's unusual track gauge of was converted to standard gauge
.
By 1906, the electric tram network consisted of 12 tram lines (1-11 and 13). To operate these lines, the GTA purchased 229 new electric tramcars. The former horse-drawn trams were progressively reclassified as tram trailers.
In 1906, the Amsterdamse Tramharmonie orchestra (now known as Symfonisch Blaasorkest ATH
) was founded. This orchestra, composed of amateur musicians from the Amsterdam region, still exists.
The last remaining Amsterdam horse tramway was line 12 (Nassauplein–Sloterdijk), which was electrified in 1916. Five years later, upon Amsterdam's annexation of the municipality of Sloten, a former Sloten horse tramway came under the control of the GTA. The horses of this line, which linked Overtoom with Sloten, were replaced by tram-hauling buses in 1922; the line was converted into a conventional bus line in 1925.
In 1931, the tramway network reached its greatest extent, at 25 tram lines. From that year to 1940, (almost) all the districts in the city could be reached by tram. Between 1900 and 1930, the fleet grew to 445 motorised trams and approximately 350 trailers. These were all twin axle vehicles with wooden bodies.
From 1922 until 1971, mailboxes hung behind the trams. These were emptied at Centraal Station; the post office's distribution centre was located next to the station, at Stationsplein, and later at Oosterdokskade
. Thanks to the tram mailboxes, a letter could be delivered on time, even if it is too late for the last collection from the regular mailboxes.
During the Great Depression
of the 1930s, the tram service was reduced. In 1932, lines 12, 15, 19, 20 and 21 were abandoned. However, as part of the Eastern Railway Works (Spoorwegwerken Oost) in 1939-1942, trams came to the new neighborhoods in Amsterdam-Oost
, to serve the Watergraafsmeer
, the new Amstel station
and the rebuilt Muiderpoort station
.
On 1 January 1943, the GTA merged with the Gemeentevervoerbedrijf to form Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
(GVB).
Between 1940 and 1945, the trams carried big crowds and faced a crisis. Several lines had to be suspended (lines 4, 6, 8 and 14), before the whole service ceased in October 1944 due to a coal shortage. Many tram cars were transported eastward.
, the tram lines were able start running again in June 1945, with an initially limited service (lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 24, 25). Line 5 was split into line 5 and line 12. Some lines were returned to service in later years: 2, 17 and 18 (in 1947) and 4 (in 1948). Between 1945 and 1949, the emergency line 26 was the tram line with the highest line number, followed by line 11. In 1948 and 1949, a special tram S ran as an express service from line 25 to Amstel station.
Tram lines 6 and 23 did not return to regular service, but operated intermittently until 1958, as transportation to the stadium. Lines 8, 14 and 22, used during the war, were not reactivated as tram lines, although line 22 was revived in 1950 as a bus line.
Between 1948 and 1950, the GVB acquired sixty motorised trams and fifty trailers, known as the three axles (drieassers). They were built by Werkspoor in Utrecht
-Zuilen
, and replaced the then oldest trams in the fleet, which had entered service in 1900.
After a period of reconstruction in the 1940s, one tram line after another was shut down in the 1950s. Buses were considered to be more practical. Thus, between 1950 and 1965 lines 18, 12, 11, 17 and 5 (provisionally in 1961, finally in 1965) were replaced, in that order, by bus services. Only the Leidsestraat and Utrechtsestraat remained served by tram lines (lines 1, 2 and 4), which were necessary because these streets were too narrow for buses.
and Werkspoor in the Netherlands, were added to the fleet; they were numbered 551-587 and 602-724. The old twin axle trams from the prewar period were withdrawn from service between 1945 and 1968.
) in the west of Amsterdam were connected with its tramway network: Bos en Lommerplein in 1950, Slotermeer
in 1954, and Osdorp in 1962.
There were also some other new tram lines, with line numbers that had long since disappeared or had never existed. Line 17, which was closed in 1956, was revived in 1962, when line 27 appeared on the old route of line 17. In 1977, upon the opening of Amsterdam's first metro line, lines 6 and 12 appeared. In 1978, with the opening of Station Zuid), came line 5, and in 1982, a new line 14 (to Station Sloterdijk) was opened, forty years after the lifting of the original line 14.
Other changes also occurred. In 1971, the tramway postal service was withdrawn. In 1972-1973, the first group of articulated trams were extended by the addition of a middle section, to become bi-articulated trams. Also in the early 1970s, two series of new trams were ordered from Linke-Hofmann-Busch in Salzgitter
, Germany, to operate the new western extensions. In 1974-19775, nos 725-779 entered the fleet, and in 1979-1981, nos 780-816 joined them.
By the early 1980s, the GVB had 252 bi-articulated trams available for use, at that time the highest number in any city in Europe. In 1983, after only 35 years - a short time for the Amsterdam tramway network - the three axle trams operated their last services; they had never been liked by the tram personnel. Between 1981 and 1983, the GVB also lost four other trams, when they were destroyed by fires started by rioting squatters.
Meanwhile, further western extensions of the network were opened, to Geuzenveld in 1974, Slotervaart
-Zuid in 1975, Nieuw Sloten
in 1991 and De Aker
in 2001. Other enhancements were to: Station Zuid in 1978, Flevopark
in 1980, Station RAI
in 1981, Station Sloterdijk in 1982 (extended in 1985), and a second connection with Bos en Lommer/Slotermeer in 1989.
In 1985, a tram line was built to Haarlemmerhouttuinen, but not connected to other tracks, nor equipped with overhead wires. Twenty five years later, it was still yet to enter service.
, Belgium. They were Amsterdam's first low-floor tram
s. During the same period came the first withdrawals of the first articulated trams from 1957, apart from a few vehicles that had previously had been damaged by fire or a collision. Additionally, a number of the 1974-1975 LHB vehicles were removed from service.
In 1990, a new tramway to Buitenveldert
and Amstelveen
was ready to go. Line 5 links Station Zuid with Amstelveen Binnenhof, while line 51 runs as a light rail
service, from Station Zuid to Amstelveen Poortwachter, and since 2004 to Westwijk. Also in 1990, line 9 to the Watergraafsmeer was extended to Diemen
(Sniep). In 1991, a rush hour line 20 and a special events line 11 were opened. In 1993 came a help line 11, and in 1997 a circle line 20. Lines 6, 11 (2 lines), 20 and 27 have since disappeared. However, line 11 is still used occasionally for extra services to the RAI.
Between 2002 and 2004, following an order for 155 Siemens Combino
trams (nos 2001-2151 and 2201-2204), the existing tram fleet was largely renewed. Four of the Combinos were specified as bidirectional vehicles, for use on line 5 to Amstelveen. By mid 2004, 140 Combinos had been delivered. As a result, the last old articulated cars of the 1960s were removed from service in March 2004. However, between 2004 and 2008 all of the Combinos had to be taken progressively out of service for repairs and strengthening, to correct their many structural faults.
, Rotterdam
, Utrecht
), but outside Amsterdam the colours have since been removed.
The Amsterdam line colours consist of combinations of one or two colours (red, green, yellow, blue and white). Not all colour combinations are permitted: for example, green-blue and yellow-white are not used, due to the lack of contrast. The square plane can be split horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
The belt lines 3, 7, 9 and 10 were given a line colour in one colour: yellow, blue, green and red, respectively. The radial lines usually had line colours divided into two. Later, new line colours divided into three fields (using a total of two colours) were introduced. Lines 7 and 13 have different combinations again. Line 7 is blue, but for clarity two horizontal white stripes are added. Line 13 is white, but has a pattern of blue squares added. Line 22 (originally 19) (Circle Line Centraal Station) was the only line using the colour pink.
Under the current system, there are 38 colour combinations. In the 1980s, never used combinations were assigned to the nonexistent lines 27, 28, 29 and 30 and to the Metro line numbers 50 and 58. Today, the line colours are still used. They are located next to the line number on the front of the trams and light rail vehicles (and also on light rail vehicles running on Metro lines 50, 53 and 54).
style building at the corner of the Overtoom and Stadhouderskade 1. In 1983, the GVB moved to Scheepvaarthuis (also in Amsterdam School style; completed 1913) at Prince Hendrikkade 108. In 2004, the GVB moved again, to a modern office building at Arlandaweg 100, near Sloterdijk station.
For the operation of Amsterdam's trams, there are two main depots: Havenstraat (Oud-Zuid), which was opened in 1914, and Lekstraat (Rivierenbuurt), built between 1927 and 1929 in Amsterdam School style. On 12 July 2010, the management of the two depots was merged. Lekstraat depot is now only used for storage, and the daily maintenance of all trams is now carried out at the Havenstraat depot.
Since May 2005, the tramway network has also had a yard at the Zeeburgereiland
. This was built especially for line 26, partly because of lack of space in the Lekstraat depot, and partly to shorten turnaround times.
The main Amsterdam tram workshop has been based since May 2005 in Diemen
-Zuid. Previously, it had been housed from 1902 in Tollensstraat (Oud-West).
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
system in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the capital of the Netherlands
Capital of the Netherlands
The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, even though the States-General and the government have been both situated in The Hague since 1588. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of 24 August 1815 and its...
.
Opened in 1875, the network currently has 16 lines. It has been operated since 1943 by Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
The Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf is the municipal transport company of Amsterdam. As of 2007, the GVB is an independent corporation wholly owned by the city of Amsterdam.-History:...
(GVB).
Beginnings
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
tramway was opened. It linked Plantage
Plantage (Amsterdam)
Plantage is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. More information about the neighborhood: ....
with the Leidseplein
Leidseplein
The Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
, and was operated by AOM (Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij), which had been founded in 1872 by Karel Herman Schadd, amongst others.
In the last quarter of the 19th century, horse trams ran through the main streets of Amsterdam, linking all neighborhoods inside the Singelgracht with Dam Square
Dam Square
Dam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.- Location and description :...
. Horse tram lines also ran out to the then new housing districts. By the end of the century, about 15 lines led to or from the Vondelstraat, Overtoom, Willemsparkweg, Amsteldijk, Linnaeusstraat, Weesperzijde, Bilderdijkstraat and Ceintuurbaan.
The routes of the original horse tram lines can still clearly be recognised in the present day tram lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10 and 13.
Gemeentetram
As of 1 January 1900, the municipality of Amsterdam took over AOM. The company continued as the Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA). A total of 242 tramcars, 758 horses and 15 buildings were acquired along with the company.Between 1900 and 1906, all but one of the existing tram lines was electrified. Additionally, the AOM's unusual track gauge of was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
.
By 1906, the electric tram network consisted of 12 tram lines (1-11 and 13). To operate these lines, the GTA purchased 229 new electric tramcars. The former horse-drawn trams were progressively reclassified as tram trailers.
In 1906, the Amsterdamse Tramharmonie orchestra (now known as Symfonisch Blaasorkest ATH
Symfonisch Blaasorkest ATH
The Amsterdam Wind Orchestra ATH is a Dutch wind orchestra.The orchestra was founded in 1906 and plays in the First Division, the highest league of amateur orchestras in the Netherlands, and takes pride in its rich history of musical highlights...
) was founded. This orchestra, composed of amateur musicians from the Amsterdam region, still exists.
The last remaining Amsterdam horse tramway was line 12 (Nassauplein–Sloterdijk), which was electrified in 1916. Five years later, upon Amsterdam's annexation of the municipality of Sloten, a former Sloten horse tramway came under the control of the GTA. The horses of this line, which linked Overtoom with Sloten, were replaced by tram-hauling buses in 1922; the line was converted into a conventional bus line in 1925.
Further developments
Between 1910 and 1930, the growth of the city generated many new extensions to the tram lines. The first thirteen electrified tram lines were joined by: line 14 in 1910, lines 15–18 in 1913, line 19 in 1916, lines 22 and 23 in 1921, line 20 in 1922, line 21 in 1928, line 24 in 1929 and line 25 in 1930.In 1931, the tramway network reached its greatest extent, at 25 tram lines. From that year to 1940, (almost) all the districts in the city could be reached by tram. Between 1900 and 1930, the fleet grew to 445 motorised trams and approximately 350 trailers. These were all twin axle vehicles with wooden bodies.
From 1922 until 1971, mailboxes hung behind the trams. These were emptied at Centraal Station; the post office's distribution centre was located next to the station, at Stationsplein, and later at Oosterdokskade
Oosterdokseiland
Oosterdokseiland is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
. Thanks to the tram mailboxes, a letter could be delivered on time, even if it is too late for the last collection from the regular mailboxes.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s, the tram service was reduced. In 1932, lines 12, 15, 19, 20 and 21 were abandoned. However, as part of the Eastern Railway Works (Spoorwegwerken Oost) in 1939-1942, trams came to the new neighborhoods in Amsterdam-Oost
Amsterdam-Oost
Amsterdam-Oost is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
, to serve the Watergraafsmeer
Watergraafsmeer
The Watergraafsmeer is a polder in The Netherlands. It was reclaimed in 1629. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were many buitenplaatsen in the Watergraafsmeer, though nowadays only one, Frankendael, remains....
, the new Amstel station
Amsterdam Amstel railway station
Amsterdam Amstel is a railway station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 15 October 1939. It is located south west of the station Amsterdam Centraal...
and the rebuilt Muiderpoort station
Amsterdam Muiderpoort railway station
Amsterdam Muiderpoort is a railway station in the east of Amsterdam. It was re-opened on 15 October 1939 after being first opened in 1896. It is located 4 km southeast of Amsterdam Centraal. At this station the Amsterdam–Arnhem railway and the Amsterdam–Zutphen railway split, with the two...
.
On 1 January 1943, the GTA merged with the Gemeentevervoerbedrijf to form Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf
The Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf is the municipal transport company of Amsterdam. As of 2007, the GVB is an independent corporation wholly owned by the city of Amsterdam.-History:...
(GVB).
Between 1940 and 1945, the trams carried big crowds and faced a crisis. Several lines had to be suspended (lines 4, 6, 8 and 14), before the whole service ceased in October 1944 due to a coal shortage. Many tram cars were transported eastward.
Postwar period
Following the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the tram lines were able start running again in June 1945, with an initially limited service (lines 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 24, 25). Line 5 was split into line 5 and line 12. Some lines were returned to service in later years: 2, 17 and 18 (in 1947) and 4 (in 1948). Between 1945 and 1949, the emergency line 26 was the tram line with the highest line number, followed by line 11. In 1948 and 1949, a special tram S ran as an express service from line 25 to Amstel station.
Tram lines 6 and 23 did not return to regular service, but operated intermittently until 1958, as transportation to the stadium. Lines 8, 14 and 22, used during the war, were not reactivated as tram lines, although line 22 was revived in 1950 as a bus line.
Between 1948 and 1950, the GVB acquired sixty motorised trams and fifty trailers, known as the three axles (drieassers). They were built by Werkspoor in Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
-Zuilen
Zuilen
Zuilen is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It existed until 1954, when it merged with Utrecht.Nowadays, Zuilen is a neighbourhood of Utrecht.-External links: Map of the former municipality in 1868....
, and replaced the then oldest trams in the fleet, which had entered service in 1900.
After a period of reconstruction in the 1940s, one tram line after another was shut down in the 1950s. Buses were considered to be more practical. Thus, between 1950 and 1965 lines 18, 12, 11, 17 and 5 (provisionally in 1961, finally in 1965) were replaced, in that order, by bus services. Only the Leidsestraat and Utrechtsestraat remained served by tram lines (lines 1, 2 and 4), which were necessary because these streets were too narrow for buses.
Revival
In the mid 1950s, (modern) tramcars came back into the spotlight. The 25 articulated trams ordered in 1955 to serve only the Leidsestraat lines 1 and 2 were well received, and secured the future of trams in Amsterdam. Between 1957 and 1968, 160 new articulated vehicles, manufactured by BeijnesBeijnes
Beijnes was a defunct Haarlem manufacturer of carriages, busses, trains, and trams. It was closely associated with the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij -History:...
and Werkspoor in the Netherlands, were added to the fleet; they were numbered 551-587 and 602-724. The old twin axle trams from the prewar period were withdrawn from service between 1945 and 1968.
Extensions
After the trams had returned to favour in the inner city, the newly created Western Garden Cities (Westelijke TuinstedenWestelijke Tuinsteden
Westelijke Tuinsteden is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
) in the west of Amsterdam were connected with its tramway network: Bos en Lommerplein in 1950, Slotermeer
Slotermeer (tuinstad)
Slotermeer is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
in 1954, and Osdorp in 1962.
There were also some other new tram lines, with line numbers that had long since disappeared or had never existed. Line 17, which was closed in 1956, was revived in 1962, when line 27 appeared on the old route of line 17. In 1977, upon the opening of Amsterdam's first metro line, lines 6 and 12 appeared. In 1978, with the opening of Station Zuid), came line 5, and in 1982, a new line 14 (to Station Sloterdijk) was opened, forty years after the lifting of the original line 14.
Other changes also occurred. In 1971, the tramway postal service was withdrawn. In 1972-1973, the first group of articulated trams were extended by the addition of a middle section, to become bi-articulated trams. Also in the early 1970s, two series of new trams were ordered from Linke-Hofmann-Busch in Salzgitter
Salzgitter
Salzgitter is an independent city in southeast Lower Saxony, Germany, located between Hildesheim and Braunschweig. Together with Wolfsburg and Braunschweig, Salzgitter is one of the seven Oberzentren of Lower Saxony...
, Germany, to operate the new western extensions. In 1974-19775, nos 725-779 entered the fleet, and in 1979-1981, nos 780-816 joined them.
By the early 1980s, the GVB had 252 bi-articulated trams available for use, at that time the highest number in any city in Europe. In 1983, after only 35 years - a short time for the Amsterdam tramway network - the three axle trams operated their last services; they had never been liked by the tram personnel. Between 1981 and 1983, the GVB also lost four other trams, when they were destroyed by fires started by rioting squatters.
Meanwhile, further western extensions of the network were opened, to Geuzenveld in 1974, Slotervaart
Slotervaart (tuinstad)
Slotervaart is a neighborhood in the west-southwestern part of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
-Zuid in 1975, Nieuw Sloten
Nieuw Sloten
Nieuw Sloten is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
in 1991 and De Aker
De Aker
De Aker is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
in 2001. Other enhancements were to: Station Zuid in 1978, Flevopark
Flevopark
Flevopark is a park located in the Indische Buurt, in the eastern portion of the city of Amsterdam, in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland.This park was given concrete form in 1908. The naturalist Jac. P...
in 1980, Station RAI
Amsterdam RAI railway station
The railway station Amsterdam RAI is situated in southern Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It lies between the two directions of the A10 Amsterdam ring road. It is also a metro station at which GVB operates two routes...
in 1981, Station Sloterdijk in 1982 (extended in 1985), and a second connection with Bos en Lommer/Slotermeer in 1989.
In 1985, a tram line was built to Haarlemmerhouttuinen, but not connected to other tracks, nor equipped with overhead wires. Twenty five years later, it was still yet to enter service.
New technology
In 1989-1991, to replace the oldest articulated trams, and to operate new lines, 45 articulated vehicles (numbers 817-841 and 901-920) were built by BN in BrugesBruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
, Belgium. They were Amsterdam's first low-floor tram
Low-floor tram
A low-floor tram is a tram that has no stair steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. The low-floor design improves the accessibility of the tram for the public, and also may provide larger windows and more airspace....
s. During the same period came the first withdrawals of the first articulated trams from 1957, apart from a few vehicles that had previously had been damaged by fire or a collision. Additionally, a number of the 1974-1975 LHB vehicles were removed from service.
In 1990, a new tramway to Buitenveldert
Buitenveldert
Buitenveldert is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
and Amstelveen
Amstelveen
' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen,...
was ready to go. Line 5 links Station Zuid with Amstelveen Binnenhof, while line 51 runs as a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
service, from Station Zuid to Amstelveen Poortwachter, and since 2004 to Westwijk. Also in 1990, line 9 to the Watergraafsmeer was extended to Diemen
Diemen
Diemen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands with a population of around 24,000. Diemen is located in the province of North Holland directly to the east of Amsterdam within the capital's metropolitan area.-Geography:...
(Sniep). In 1991, a rush hour line 20 and a special events line 11 were opened. In 1993 came a help line 11, and in 1997 a circle line 20. Lines 6, 11 (2 lines), 20 and 27 have since disappeared. However, line 11 is still used occasionally for extra services to the RAI.
Between 2002 and 2004, following an order for 155 Siemens Combino
Combino
The Combino is a low floor tram produced by Siemens Transportation Systems . The first prototype was produced in 1996 at the Duewag works in Düsseldorf; the trams are currently made in Krefeld-Uerdingen. Because of its modular design using standardised components, and the resulting reduced costs,...
trams (nos 2001-2151 and 2201-2204), the existing tram fleet was largely renewed. Four of the Combinos were specified as bidirectional vehicles, for use on line 5 to Amstelveen. By mid 2004, 140 Combinos had been delivered. As a result, the last old articulated cars of the 1960s were removed from service in March 2004. However, between 2004 and 2008 all of the Combinos had to be taken progressively out of service for repairs and strengthening, to correct their many structural faults.
Current lines
, the Amsterdam tramway network was made up of the following lines:- 1 – Centraal Station – LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
– Surinameplein – Station LelylaanAmsterdam Lelylaan railway stationAmsterdam Lelylaan is a railway station in west Amsterdam. It is served by trains of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen and metros of the GVB. The station opened on 1 June 1986. It is located on the Amsterdam-Schiphol railway, a few km south of Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station...
– OsdorpOsdorpOsdorp is a borough of Amsterdam, The Netherlands in North Holland. Osdorp has 45,627 residents. There is also an original area which is now called Oud Osdorp which is in Sloten.Since 2001 there has been major modernisation in Osdorp.-Transport:...
De AkerDe AkerDe Aker is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
(Matterhorn) - 2 – Centraal Station – LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
– Hoofddorpplein – Nieuw SlotenNieuw SlotenNieuw Sloten is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
(Oudenaardeplantsoen) - 3 – Zoutkeetsgracht – MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
– Ceintuurbaan – MuiderpoortstationAmsterdam Muiderpoort railway stationAmsterdam Muiderpoort is a railway station in the east of Amsterdam. It was re-opened on 15 October 1939 after being first opened in 1896. It is located 4 km southeast of Amsterdam Centraal. At this station the Amsterdam–Arnhem railway and the Amsterdam–Zutphen railway split, with the two... - 4 – Centraal Station – Frederiksplein – Station RAIAmsterdam RAI railway stationThe railway station Amsterdam RAI is situated in southern Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It lies between the two directions of the A10 Amsterdam ring road. It is also a metro station at which GVB operates two routes...
- 5 – Centraal Station – LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
– MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
– Station Zuid – AmstelveenAmstelveen' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen,...
(Binnenhof) - 7 – Sloterpark – LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
– Weesperplein – FlevoparkFlevoparkFlevopark is a park located in the Indische Buurt, in the eastern portion of the city of Amsterdam, in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland.This park was given concrete form in 1908. The naturalist Jac. P... - 9 – Centraal Station – Plantage – WatergraafsmeerWatergraafsmeerThe Watergraafsmeer is a polder in The Netherlands. It was reclaimed in 1629. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were many buitenplaatsen in the Watergraafsmeer, though nowadays only one, Frankendael, remains....
– DiemenDiemenDiemen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands with a population of around 24,000. Diemen is located in the province of North Holland directly to the east of Amsterdam within the capital's metropolitan area.-Geography:...
(Sniep) - 10 – Van Hallstraat – LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
– Weesperplein – Rietlandpark – Java-eilandJava-eilandJava-eiland is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
(Azartplein) - 12 – Station Sloterdijk – MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
– Ceintuurbaan – AmstelstationAmsterdam Amstel railway stationAmsterdam Amstel is a railway station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 15 October 1939. It is located south west of the station Amsterdam Centraal... - 13 – Centraal Station – Rozengracht – Mercatorplein – Geuzenveld (Lambertus Zijlplein)
- 14 – Sloterpark – Rozengracht – DamDam SquareDam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.- Location and description :...
– Plantage – FlevoparkFlevoparkFlevopark is a park located in the Indische Buurt, in the eastern portion of the city of Amsterdam, in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland.This park was given concrete form in 1908. The naturalist Jac. P... - 16 – Centraal Station – Vijzelstraat – MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
– De Lairessestraat – Amstelveenseweg – VU Medisch Centrum - 17 – Centraal Station – Rozengracht – Kinkerstraat – Station LelylaanAmsterdam Lelylaan railway stationAmsterdam Lelylaan is a railway station in west Amsterdam. It is served by trains of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen and metros of the GVB. The station opened on 1 June 1986. It is located on the Amsterdam-Schiphol railway, a few km south of Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station...
– OsdorpOsdorpOsdorp is a borough of Amsterdam, The Netherlands in North Holland. Osdorp has 45,627 residents. There is also an original area which is now called Oud Osdorp which is in Sloten.Since 2001 there has been major modernisation in Osdorp.-Transport:...
(DijkgraafpleinDijkgraafpleinThe Dijkgraafplein is a square in Amsterdam-Osdorp in the Netherlands, lying at the end of Tussen Meer. The square is named after the office of dijkgraaf in 1962. The Dijkgraafplein lies in the neighborhood that is now known as 'De Sharpen' and where many street are named after waterways.Since...
) - 24 – Centraal Station – Vijzelstraat – MuseumpleinMuseumpleinThe Museumplein is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum...
– Beethovenstraat – Amstelveenseweg – VU Medisch Centrum - 25 – Passagiersterminal – Centraal Station – Vijzelstraat – President Kennedylaan
- 26 – Centraal Station – Rietlandpark – Piet Heintunnel – IJburgIJburgIJburg is a residential neighbourhood currently under construction in the east of Amsterdam. It is situated in the IJ Lake and is being built on artificial islands which have been raised from the lake...
(IJburglaan)
Disused lines
The numbers 6, 8, 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 27 have belonged to Amsterdam tram lines in the past, but now there are no tram lines with those numbers. A brief list of the disused lines and routes:- Line 6 existed from 1901 to 1942 (and as Stadium transport to 1958), and from 1977 to 2006. It took on various routes. During period 1901 to 2006, there were successively three different tram lines with this number. Its final route was VU Medisch Centrum (Gustav Mahlerlaan) via the LeidsepleinLeidsepleinThe Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the Grachtengordel district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat...
to Plantage Parklaan. - Line 8 existed from 1905 to 1942. This tram ran through the old Amsterdam JodenbuurtJodenbuurt (Amsterdam)The Jodenbuurt is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Prior to World War II, the Jodenbuurt was the center of Amsterdam's Jewish population, hence its name ....
(Centraal Station – NieuwmarktNieuwmarktNieuwmarkt is a square in the centre of the Dutch capital Amsterdam. The surrounding area is known as the Nieuwmarktbuurt ....
– WaterloopleinWaterloopleinWaterlooplein is a square in the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, near the Amstel river. The daily flea market on the square is popular with tourists. The Stopera city hall and opera building and the Mozes en Aäronkerk church are at Waterlooplein....
– Weesperstraat – RivierenbuurtRivierenbuurt (Amsterdam)Rivierenbuurt is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
). - Line 11 existed from 1905 to 1944, from 1949 to 1955, and from 1993 to 1996 (as a helper (short cut) line for line 1). The number is now sometimes used for trams to special events.
- Line 15 existed from 1913 to 1932, and from 1936 to 1937.
- Line 18 existed from 1913 to 1951.
- Line 19 existed between 1913 and 1938. In this period, there were, successively, five different tram lines with this number.
- Line 20 existed from 1922 to 1932, from 1991 to 1993 (branch line), and as a Circle Tram from 1997 to 2002. During the entire period, there were successively three different tram lines with this number.
- Line 21 bestond as a horse/tractor tram line (ex municipality of Sloten) from 1921 to 1925 and as an electric tramway from 1928 to 1931.
- Line 22 existed from 1921 to 1944 (Circle Line Centraal Station).
- Line 23 existed from 1921 to 1944 (Stadium transport to 1958).
- The line numbers 28 and 29 have never been used for a tram line in Amsterdam.
- The line number 30 is used informally by the Electric Tramway Museum Amsterdam (Haarlemmermeerstation – AmstelveenAmstelveen' is a suburban municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the following villages and/or districts: Amstelveen, Bovenkerk, Westwijk, Bankras-Kostverloren, Groenelaan, Waardhuizen,...
– Bovenkerk).
Line colours
Upon the electrification of the Amsterdam tramway network, all tram lines were given a line number and a line colour. The latter designator is a square logo next to the line number, so that people who cannot not read the line numbers can still recognize the line. The tram stop signs also display the line colours, as did the early twentieth century horse tram lines. Line colours have been used in other cities in the Netherlands (The HagueTrams in The Hague
The The Hague tramway network forms part of the public transport system in The Hague, the seat of government of the Netherlands.Opened in 1864, the network currently has 12 tram lines and two light rail lines. It has been operated since 2002 by HTM Personenvervoer.-External links:...
, Rotterdam
Trams in Rotterdam
The Rotterdam tramway network is a key element of the overall public transport arrangements in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Opened in 1879, the network currently has 8 regular lines and 3 occasional lines. It has been operated since 1927 by Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram .-History:The RET has had two...
, Utrecht
Utrecht
Utrecht is a city in the Netherlands.The name may also refer to:* Utrecht , of which Utrecht is the capital* Utrecht , including the city of Utrecht* Bishopric of Utrecht* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht...
), but outside Amsterdam the colours have since been removed.
The Amsterdam line colours consist of combinations of one or two colours (red, green, yellow, blue and white). Not all colour combinations are permitted: for example, green-blue and yellow-white are not used, due to the lack of contrast. The square plane can be split horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
The belt lines 3, 7, 9 and 10 were given a line colour in one colour: yellow, blue, green and red, respectively. The radial lines usually had line colours divided into two. Later, new line colours divided into three fields (using a total of two colours) were introduced. Lines 7 and 13 have different combinations again. Line 7 is blue, but for clarity two horizontal white stripes are added. Line 13 is white, but has a pattern of blue squares added. Line 22 (originally 19) (Circle Line Centraal Station) was the only line using the colour pink.
Under the current system, there are 38 colour combinations. In the 1980s, never used combinations were assigned to the nonexistent lines 27, 28, 29 and 30 and to the Metro line numbers 50 and 58. Today, the line colours are still used. They are located next to the line number on the front of the trams and light rail vehicles (and also on light rail vehicles running on Metro lines 50, 53 and 54).
Headquarters and depots
The AOM's original headquarters was located at Stadhouderskade 2. In 1923, the GTA set up a new headquarters in the Amsterdam SchoolAmsterdam School
The Amsterdam School is a style of architecture that arose from 1910 through about 1930 in The Netherlands...
style building at the corner of the Overtoom and Stadhouderskade 1. In 1983, the GVB moved to Scheepvaarthuis (also in Amsterdam School style; completed 1913) at Prince Hendrikkade 108. In 2004, the GVB moved again, to a modern office building at Arlandaweg 100, near Sloterdijk station.
For the operation of Amsterdam's trams, there are two main depots: Havenstraat (Oud-Zuid), which was opened in 1914, and Lekstraat (Rivierenbuurt), built between 1927 and 1929 in Amsterdam School style. On 12 July 2010, the management of the two depots was merged. Lekstraat depot is now only used for storage, and the daily maintenance of all trams is now carried out at the Havenstraat depot.
Since May 2005, the tramway network has also had a yard at the Zeeburgereiland
Zeeburgereiland
The Zeeburgereiland is a triangular island on the east side of Amsterdam, in the Dutch province Noord-Holland. It lies between the Oranjesluizen and the Diemerzeedijk and on the east is bordered by the IJ.-References:***...
. This was built especially for line 26, partly because of lack of space in the Lekstraat depot, and partly to shorten turnaround times.
The main Amsterdam tram workshop has been based since May 2005 in Diemen
Diemen
Diemen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands with a population of around 24,000. Diemen is located in the province of North Holland directly to the east of Amsterdam within the capital's metropolitan area.-Geography:...
-Zuid. Previously, it had been housed from 1902 in Tollensstraat (Oud-West).
See also
- History of AmsterdamHistory of AmsterdamAmsterdam has a long and eventful history. The origins of the city lie in the 13th century, when fisherman living along the banks of the River Amstel built a bridge across the waterway near the IJ, then a large saltwater inlet. Wooden doors on the bridge served as a dam; these protected the town...
- List of town tramway systems in the Netherlands
- Transport in Amsterdam
External links
- Geheugen van de Amsterdamse Tram (Memories of Amsterdam trams) – with many images.
- Photos of the Amsterdam tram in the Image Bank, Amsterdam of the Stadsarchief Amsterdam (Amsterdam City Archives)