Rotterdam-The Hague metro to run every 5 minutes under new plans

By 2033, the metro between Rotterdam and The Hague is set to run every five minutes, twice as often as it does currently. 1 billion euros have been allocated to make these plans a reality.

Metros between Rotterdam and The Hague to be doubled

The frequency of the metro service running between Rotterdam and The Hague will be increased to transport the growing number of passengers in the area. The trains will run every five minutes on the E-line between Rotterdam-Slinge and The Hague Central Station, and on the C-line between the Capelsbrug and Hoogvliet stations.

Doubling the number of metros running on these lines from six per day to 12 will allow daily passenger numbers to rise from the current 280.000 to 330.000. The plans were finalised this week.

"The metropolitan region is growing rapidly, and that demands a reliable and high-frequency public transport system," board member of the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH) Martina Huijsmans told Trouw. Around 50.000 homes are being built along the metro route to accommodate an extra 400.000 residents expected in the area by 2040.

Major construction work needed to improve metro line

In order to increase metro frequency so significantly, much work is needed on the route, such as modifications to rails, switches and signals, as well as new metro trains. The Waalhaven metro depot also needs to be expanded and modernised to house and maintain the extra metros.

1 billion euros has been allocated to the task, mainly funded by the MRDH, but with contributions from 21 municipalities in South Holland. 

Dutch rail operator ProRail is also working on plans to run more frequent trains in the Randstad area. Plans include running trains every 7,5 minutes on the Oude Lijn between Leiden and Dordrecht, as well as on routes such as Amsterdam-Utrecht-Arnhem and Schiphol-Utrecht-Den Bosch.