Where in Zuidas
In the summer of 2024, we will be increasing the height of the most northerly metro track and platform. This is necessary as part of the regeneration of Amsterdam Zuid station. The railway safety system also needs a software update in order to be able to implement this change. For this reason, the metro track concerned is being completely removed from service for seven weeks: from 6 July until 25 August. This track is usually used by metros 50 and 51 heading in the direction of Isolatorweg. Both metros will continue to run throughout the entire period, but they will be sharing the track used by metros 50 and 51 travelling in the opposite direction: to Gein and Central Station.
How will this affect passengers?
Metros 50 and 51 will continue to run in both directions from 6 July until 25 August, but at a reduced frequency. Instead of 12 metros per hour in each direction, there will be four per hour in each direction during this period. ‘In order to enable as many metros to run on a single track as possible, we have opted to interrupt some journeys at Amsterdam Zuid station’, says Ger Walstra, senior traffic specialist at the GVB. ‘This will mean that anyone travelling between Amstelveenseweg metro station and Amsterdam RAI station will need to change trains at Amsterdam Zuid station.’ The North/South metro line will run according to its normal schedule throughout the entire period.
Down to the centimetre
‘Within the railway safety system known as S&C (which stands for Signalling & Control, Ed.) everything is regulated with precision’, explains Walstra. ‘That not only includes the time that the metro train will depart, but also where it stops on the platform. This is determined down to the centimetre for safety reasons. This means that when a track is taken out of service, lots of new data needs to be entered into the safety system. This must be done with the utmost precision– not only for Amsterdam Zuid station, but for all stations on the lines that will run according to a modified route or schedule.’
Testing on a free track
After the safety software has been modified, it first needs to undergo extensive testing on a track that is not being used by metros. Walstra: ‘This can only be done at night, after the last metro of the night and before the departure of the first one the next morning. On weekdays, that leaves just four hours, but six hours from Saturday to Sunday. In addition, at weekends many fewer passengers will be inconvenienced in the event that something goes wrong or if the work overruns. On Sunday mornings, only a handful of people use the metro, unlike on weekdays. This is why we’ve decided to test and apply the update in the night of Saturday to Sunday (from 6 to 7 July 2024).’ When the software update has been successfully completed, metros 50 and 51 will be able to operate safely in both directions on a single track according to the schedule.’
Renovation work on existing Minervapassage
We previously reported that we plan to make rapid progress on the regeneration of Amsterdam Zuid station during the summer. Because of the safety system update in the weekend of 6-7 July, disruption will last for a week longer than we originally reported. Over a seven-week period, we will be demolishing the most northerly metro track and platform in order to replace it 2 m higher. We are increasing the height of the metro track all the way along from Parnassusweg to Beethovenstraat, a major operation. As a result of this increase in height, three of the four metro tracks and platforms will be at the height required for the renovation of the existing station passageway, the Minervapassage.
Of course, as the summer approaches, we will provide full updates on the works, service changes and any disruption at and around Amsterdam Zuid station.
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