(Netherlands )UTRECHT

Utrecht
Utrecht opened in 1983 2 new tramway lines (18 km), to connect the central railway station to some peripherical suburbs. This system is a properly said LRT SnelTram, with tram-like rolling stock which runs ground level in reserved lanes, segregated by level crossing in crossroad intersections; the success of the network (more than 30.000 pax/day) has inspired similar experiences in many other towns.
The track (completely segregated from road traffic) is mostly north-south oriented; it's constituted by 2 southern branches (coming from Ijsselstein Zuid and Nieuwegein Zuid) which join each other in Nieuwegein Stadscentrum before running together up to the central railway station and Moreelse Park; the original network was extended in 2000 in order to reach the new suburb of Zerderpark (south-western terminal).
Recently Utrecht municipality and the transport operator (Connexxion) have started a massive upgrade and renewal of the system, to encrease the confort level and the service efficiency: the main results are visible in the rolling stock restyling (more internal space, new external design), better informations exchange provided to the users (info panels, TVCC systems, etc) and an innovative visive warning to the car drivers at the Sneltram crossroads.
www.connexxion.nl (official site)

CHRONOLOGY
17-12-1983	Utrecht Moreelse Park-Nieuwegein-Zuid/Nieuwegein Doorslag
14-12-1985	Nieuwegein Doorslag-IJsselstein Achterveld
02-07-2000	IJsselstein Achterveld-IJsselstein-Zuid

Country	Netherlands
Line	Sneltram
Inhabitants	City 259.000, District 1.100.000
Date opening	1983 (2000: Zerderpak extension)
Future development:	--
Length (km)	21.5
Track sections	18 km in reserved lane
Stops	25, average distance m 800
Platforms	--
Platform doors	--
General characteristics	--
n. of vehicles	27
n. of cars per vehicle	5
Type	steel wheels bi-directional
Vehicle dimensions (m)	lenght 29.0, widht 2.65
Vehicle capacity (pax)	212 (80 seated)
Frequency	--
Current/Voltage	750 V DC overhead
Type of guide/gauge	standard gauge rails (1435 mm)
Speed Km/h	Comm --, Max 80
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	--
System capacity	--
Ridership	30.000 pax/day
Total cost	--
Staff	--
System builder	ALSTOM
Model	LRV 5001-5027
NOTE	SIG system (now Alstom)