Trams in Rotterdam
Encyclopedia
The Rotterdam tramway network is a key element of the overall public transport
arrangements in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands.
Opened in 1879, the network currently has 8 regular lines and 3 occasional lines. It has been operated since 1927 by Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram
(RET).
tramway in Rotterdam, which opened in 1879. From then until 1904, the RTM ran both horsecar trams and steam trams in and around the city, which was then much smaller than today.
Apart from the RTM, there were two other, smaller, companies operating tramway networks in and around Rotterdam in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1882, the Schielandsche Tramweg-Maatschappij opened a horsecar tramway of gauge from the Hofplein via Schiekade and Bergweg to Hillegersberg
. Two decades later, in 1902, the Schiedamsche Tramweg-Maatschappij opened a horsecar tramway in Schiedam
from the station via Koemarkt to the Hoofdplein. This tramway had a gauge of .
A new form of urban transport, the electric tram, arrived in Rotterdam in 1904, with the creation of the new RETM (Rotterdamsche Electrische Tramweg Maatschappij). On 18 September 1905, the RETM began operating the first electric tram line in Rotterdam, line 1 (Honingerdijk – Beurs – Park). The electricity to power the line was supplied from a temporary generator. On 15 October 1906, the municipality started to supply electricity from the new power station, and the 21 year operating concession began. By the end of that year, there were already five electric tramway lines operating. In 1907 and 1908, more lines entered service, to bring the total to nine lines. The maximum extent of Rotterdam's tramway network was 25 lines, and this was reached in 1930.
The livery of the RETM trams was originally dark blue, and was later changed to cream. From the 1930s, it was yellow ochre.
After 27 March 1907, the horsecar line to Overschie
was the only remaining non-electric line of the RETM. Although the horsecar trams to Hillegersberg and Schiedam were still operating, they were not part of RETM network. On 31 December 1917, the Schiedam horsecar line was closed and not replaced. In 1919, the line to Hillegersberg was taken over by the RETM. In 1922 and 1923, the RETM converted this line to a standard gauge electric tramway, and in 1924 and 1925, the horsecars on the line to Overschie were gradually replaced by trams with petrol engines. Finally, in 1928, the Overshie line was closed and replaced by a bus line.
During this period, the RTM continued to operate trams to and from the islands of South Holland and Zeeland.
Several years of negotiations in the 1920s culminated in the transfer of the RETM to the municipality of Rotterdam. On 4 April 1927, the council decided to approve the proposed transfer. On 15 October of that year, the RETM was transformed into a municipal transport company and renamed RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram), with 1,903 employees.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
arrangements in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands.
Opened in 1879, the network currently has 8 regular lines and 3 occasional lines. It has been operated since 1927 by Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram
Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram
Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram is the main public transport operator in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It currently operates 28 bus lines, 9 tram lines and five metro/light rail lines in Rotterdam and the surrounding municipalities....
(RET).
History
The RET has had two predecessor tramway companies, the RTM and the RETM, respectively. The RTM (Rotterdamsche Tramweg Maatschappij) was founded in 1878 to operate the first horsecarHorsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
tramway in Rotterdam, which opened in 1879. From then until 1904, the RTM ran both horsecar trams and steam trams in and around the city, which was then much smaller than today.
Apart from the RTM, there were two other, smaller, companies operating tramway networks in and around Rotterdam in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In 1882, the Schielandsche Tramweg-Maatschappij opened a horsecar tramway of gauge from the Hofplein via Schiekade and Bergweg to Hillegersberg
Hillegersberg
Hillegersberg is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded as a village in the Middle Ages...
. Two decades later, in 1902, the Schiedamsche Tramweg-Maatschappij opened a horsecar tramway in Schiedam
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft...
from the station via Koemarkt to the Hoofdplein. This tramway had a gauge of .
A new form of urban transport, the electric tram, arrived in Rotterdam in 1904, with the creation of the new RETM (Rotterdamsche Electrische Tramweg Maatschappij). On 18 September 1905, the RETM began operating the first electric tram line in Rotterdam, line 1 (Honingerdijk – Beurs – Park). The electricity to power the line was supplied from a temporary generator. On 15 October 1906, the municipality started to supply electricity from the new power station, and the 21 year operating concession began. By the end of that year, there were already five electric tramway lines operating. In 1907 and 1908, more lines entered service, to bring the total to nine lines. The maximum extent of Rotterdam's tramway network was 25 lines, and this was reached in 1930.
The livery of the RETM trams was originally dark blue, and was later changed to cream. From the 1930s, it was yellow ochre.
After 27 March 1907, the horsecar line to Overschie
Overschie
Overschie is a former village in the Dutch province of South Holland, and now a neighbourhood of Rotterdam.The village of Overschie was located on the intersection of four rivers called "Schie": the Delftsche Schie, Schiedamsche Schie, Delfshavensche Schie, and Rotterdamsche Schie. It was a...
was the only remaining non-electric line of the RETM. Although the horsecar trams to Hillegersberg and Schiedam were still operating, they were not part of RETM network. On 31 December 1917, the Schiedam horsecar line was closed and not replaced. In 1919, the line to Hillegersberg was taken over by the RETM. In 1922 and 1923, the RETM converted this line to a standard gauge electric tramway, and in 1924 and 1925, the horsecars on the line to Overschie were gradually replaced by trams with petrol engines. Finally, in 1928, the Overshie line was closed and replaced by a bus line.
During this period, the RTM continued to operate trams to and from the islands of South Holland and Zeeland.
Several years of negotiations in the 1920s culminated in the transfer of the RETM to the municipality of Rotterdam. On 4 April 1927, the council decided to approve the proposed transfer. On 15 October of that year, the RETM was transformed into a municipal transport company and renamed RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram), with 1,903 employees.
Lines
| Line | Route | Via | Transport Company | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Groene Tuin - Charlois Charlois Charlois is a neighbourhood of the Dutch city of Rotterdam. It is located on the south bank of the Meuse River.Charlois used to be a separate village; the municipality Charlois existed until 1895, when it became part of Rotterdam.-References:... |
Station Lombardijen, Maashaven | RET | |
| 4 | Molenlaan - Marconiplein | Station Noord, Rotterdam Centraal, Eendrachtsplein, Delfshaven | RET | |
| 7 | Woudestein Stadion Woudestein Stadion Woudestein is a multi-use stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Excelsior Rotterdam. The stadium is able to hold 3,531 people and was built in 2000.... - Willemsplein |
Erasmus Universiteit, Voorschoterlaan, Oostplein, Rotterdam Centraal, Eendrachtsplein | RET | |
| 8 | Kleiweg - Spangen | Station Noord, Rotterdam Centraal, Beurs, Leuvehaven, Erasmus MC Erasmus MC The Erasmus MC is the academic hospital of the city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It is affiliated with the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, and home to its faculty of medicine... , Delfshaven, Marconiplein |
RET | |
| 10 | RoMeO | In the summer driving als historic touristical tramline, after the summer as rentable tram for party's or marriages. | ||
| 18 | Rotterdam Centraal - Park | RET | Only drives at the annual Dunya Festival | |
| 20 | Lombardijen Lombardijen Lombardijen is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands.... - Rotterdam Centraal |
Station Lombardijen, Wilhelminaplein, Eendrachtsplein | RET | |
| 21 | De Esch - Schiedam Schiedam Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. It is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is located west of Rotterdam, east of Vlaardingen and south of Delft... , Woudhoek |
Erasmus Universiteit, Oostplein, Station Blaak, Beurs, Rotterdam Centraal, Marconiplein, Station Schiedam Centrum, Station Nieuwland | RET | |
| 23 | Beverwaard Beverwaard Beverwaard is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands.... - Vlaardingen Vlaardingen Vlaardingen is a town in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas/Nieuwe Waterweg river at the confluence with the Oude Maas... , Holy |
Stadion Feijenoord, Wilhelminaplein, Leuvehaven, Beurs, Rotterdam Centraal, Marconiplein, Station Schiedam Centrum, Station Nieuwland | RET | |
| 25 | Carnisselande - Schiebroek Schiebroek Schiebroek is a former village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is now a neighbourhood of Rotterdam, and part of the borough of Hillegersberg-Schiebroek.Schiebroek was a separate municipality between 1817 and 1941, when it became part of Rotterdam.... |
Maasstad Ziekenhuis-locatie Zuider, Wilhelminaplein, Leuvehaven, Beurs, Rotterdam Centraal, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Melanchthonweg | RET | |
| 29 | Rotterdam Centraal - Stadion Feijenoord Rotterdam Centraal - Spangen (Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel is a football stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It is the home ground of Sparta Rotterdam. It has a capacity of 11,026.-History and layout:... ) |
RET | Soccer-tram. Only drives during big events or big matches in 1 of the 2 football-stadiums. |