Starting on Saturday, 6 July 2024, we will be demolishing the most northerly metro track and platform in order to replace it around 2 m higher. This will be done across the whole length of the track between Parnassusweg and Beethovenstraat. When the work has been completed, three of the four metro tracks and platforms will be at the required height for the renovated Minervapassage, the main entrance at Amsterdam Zuid station.
Removing track and third rail
During the night of Friday, 5/Saturday, 6 July 2024, the most northerly metro track (metros 50 and 51, in the direction of Isolatorweg) will be taken out of service. The GVB will be first to act, removing signalling & control equipment, such as communication masts alongside the track. ‘At the same time, we will start removing the ‘bends’ in the third rail. That’s the system of rails running parallel to the two track rails that supply the metro with power’, says Rodney Ikelaar, track work coordinator for the Nieuw-Zuid construction consortium (Mobilis, Boskalis and Van Gelder). Only when that has happened will it be possible to actually move the metro track and demolish the platform. ‘On the morning of Sunday 7 July, we will be removing sections of track, sleepers and the ballast that keeps the track in position. Later on, we will use new materials to replace the track: the existing track is past its best.’
Increasing the height of the sand bed
But before the track and platform can be put back, we will first increase the height of the bed of sand underneath it. ‘We do that by repeatedly adding a layer of sand of about half a metre and then using a sheet to vibrate it into position. In the meantime, we also conduct tests to ensure that the soil is properly compacted. At platform level in particular, the track needs to be significantly higher: by about 2 m. The same applies to the metro platform itself: it will be put back higher, bringing it to the same level as the line 52 platform (the North/South line) next to it. At other sections, such as those next to Parnassusweg and Beethovenstraat, the difference in height is significantly less. There, we will only be raising the track by around half a metre.’
Moving and lowering roof section
Once the bed of sand for the metro track is at the right height, we will be able to move a new section of the roof of the Minervapassage (currently sitting waiting on our work site between the glass domes) into position above it. Before that, we will first remove the northern glass dome and platform roof. The passageway roof section was pre-constructed on runners, which will be lengthened after the northern metro track has been removed. On 5 August, we will be moving this roof section several metres to the north across these runners. But that will not be its final position: it first needs to be lowered by around 2 m. This is because we had to build the roof section on top of another roof section in view of the limited space on our work site between the tracks. The lowering of this very heavy roof section will be done using jacks. We allow these to drop down very gradually until the roof section is in place.
Transition plates
‘After that, we’ll put transition plates in position: these are placed on the front and back of the roof section to absorb the force of the metro trains. That helps prevent track subsidence.’ Starting on 12 August, we will put the metro track back in place before thoroughly testing it. From 26 August 2024, the metro service to and from Amsterdam Zuid station will be back to normal.
Summer work from 6 July until 25 August 2024
The works being carried out in the summer of 2024 are all part of the larger regeneration of Amsterdam Zuid station. From 6 July until 26 August 2024, we will be working 24 hours per day, seven days a week at four different locations: next to Parnassusweg, on the future Brittenpassage, the existing passenger tunnel (Minervapassage) and next to Beethovenstraat. During this period, the metros will run a modified service and there will be intermittent closures of the station, Parnassusweg and the A10 Zuid. Want to find out more about the work in the existing station passageway and what disruption you can expect? If so, clik hier.
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