Rotterdam Line B metro extension to Hoek van Holland Strand station has been put into commercial operation on March 31, 2023, providing new direct access from the city centre to the beach in a 37-minute journey.
With the 1.2 km extension, “we are giving our travelers throughout the region a nice gift with this station by the sea. We are pleased that we have also opened the new Hoek van Holland Haven metro station. Many daily passengers travel from here to the city centre on a comfortable journey,” General director of the RET Maurice Unck said.
“This is an absolute asset to the people of Rotterdam, Hoekenezen and all other residents and entrepreneurs along the Hoekse Line. The fact that you can walk straight onto the beach of Hoek van Holland with your flip flops on the metro from the heart of Rotterdam is unique and historic,” said Vincent Karremans, Rotterdam alderman which is also responsible for enforcement, outdoor space and mobility.
The trains on the Rotterdam Line B metro extension run daily to the beach three times an hour and in the summer it will provide services four times an hour at weekends. In addition, extra services are expected to be introduced to meet transport demand.
Hoekse Line attracted 23,000 passengers each day from 2019 when it was opened. “This shows how desirable this fast metro connection is. Now the people from “our beautiful metropolitan region of Rotterdam The Hague are benefiting direct access to the beach,” Armand van de Laar, alderman of Rijswijk municipality, which holds the portfolio of Public Transport Development in the Rotterdam–The Hague area.
“Nowhere in the Netherlands can you get so close to the sea by rail. With this unique metro station in the Netherlands and the rest of the world, the beach of Hoek van Holland gets a boost as a 4-season seaside resort. Hardly anywhere can you get off the train, tram or metro so close to the sea,” the public transport company RET says.
The opened section, as well as the entire Line B (Hoekse Line) is equipped by Alstom with computer-based interlocking and integrated control system to provide faster services and improved connectivity. Thus Alstom has now completed the entire signalling system along the entire line. Alstom has delivered software that manages 30 safety sections and one technical room. In addition to the signalling system installed, Alstom is managing the maintenance of the total Hoekse Line, providing 24-hour assistance to RET, including preventive and corrective activities. The digital signalling is part of RET’s ambition to increase rail capacity with improved performance and efficiency which will help to shift road transport to public transport services.
The RET Line B is a former heavy railway line that has been converted to metro standards from 2017 along the Schiedam Centrum – Hoek van Holland Haven route which was opened in October 2019. Following works, the line has been constantly extended to Steendijkpolder and Hoek van Holland Strand stations. Now, the 42 km line with 32 stations starts from Nesselande station ending to Hoek van Holland station.
The initial costs for the conversion project were estimated at EUR 370 million and the works were expected to be completed in just five months. But due to discovered problems during the works such as polluted soil and the discovery of asbestos as well as other difficulties, the opening was postponed several times and ended in more than two years. Thus, the costs have increased by more than EUR 90 million to a total value of EUR 462 million.
The first section of the 24 km heavy rail line between Schiedam and Hoek van Holland was opened in 1891 and the entire line became operational in 1893. The line was electrified in 1935 and served as an important connection between Europe mainland and the UK before the 50.4 km Channel Tunnel opened 1994 connecting Folkestone and Calais.
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