The Amsterdam city council decided to build a completely new neighbourhood in 1996. Opponents of the plan called for a referendum as there were objections to possible negative effects for the nature of the IJ Lake. This referendum was held 19 March 1997. Although a majority of voters were against the construction, an insufficient number of votes was cast and construction could therefore be started.
The City was full, so build a new bit of land! And plnk a new town on it, seen here in the construction phase in 2004. When complete, the neighbourhood will have 18,000 homes for 45,000 residents and should also include employment for 12,000 people. As well as homes, schools, and shops; leisure centres, restaurants, a beach, and a cemetery are planned.
To link all the bits of island together ...
Steigereiland
Haveneiland West & East
Rieteilanden West, East, Large, Small
Centrumeiland
... you need a road and, naturally, a brand new tramline.
De lijn, ook bekend als de IJtram, loopt van het Centraal Station via de Piet Heintunnel naar de IJburglaan in de oostelijke wijk IJburg. De lijn, die sinds 2005 in gebruik is, zal in de toekomst wellicht doorgetrokken worden. In het verleden heeft een andere route dit nummer gedragen.
Starting at Centraal Station (of course) ...
... the line leaves from section A.
It does not, however, travel via Damrak and the older part of the city. Instead it plunges under the railway tracks, turns sharp right and parallels road S100.
This road is called Piet Heinkade ...
... named not after Piet Hein, Danish architect, mathematician and poet ...
... but after Dutch naval Hero, also Piet Hein.
But soon the tram burrows under the main road (station seen here under construction) ...
... and joins S114 as it plunges under a bit of dockland via the Piet Hein Tinnel. (click on the aerial view to enlarge)
From here, tram 26 runs alongside IJburglann, the spine road that links the whole clutch of fake island communities.
Being essentially a series of flat pancakes of reclaimed land, the ride does not appear to be stunningly picturesque. Until, that is, you get to the bridge.
It carries the S114 over an arm of the Nieuw Diep (have a go at translating it for yourself!) and on to Steigereiland.
There is another bridge which takes the 26 on to the main part of IJburg ...
... whence the track runs dead straight in a central reservation until the turning loop at the end.
We can meet up with bus 66 here ...
... which arrives via the other end of the island ...
... and provides links with the Metro lines 50, 53 and 54. One interchange is here at Bijlmer ArenA (with two capital "A"s) where Metro, bus and "proper" trains converge.
You can only be impressed with the way in which these foreign johnnies, complete with baggy trousers and clogs, do their public transport. (Poor taste stereotypical humour?).
Think how long it took to get the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf!
Think how long it took to get the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf!
Next Metro blog : Friday 15th April
All very impressive - and very Dutch. If there's a demand, they get on and build it. And they do build stylish bridges !
ReplyDeleteSomehow, we Brits never manage the boldness, or the style. Or the clarity for our users !