Schiedam–Hoek van Holland railway

The Schiedam–Hoek van Holland railway (also called the Hoekse Lijn) is a former railway line and future rapid transit line of the Rotterdam Metro between Schiedam and Hoek van Holland along the Nieuwe Maas. The line is also an important freight railway in the western part of the Netherlands. It is 24 kilometers long.

On 17 August 1891, the first section between Schiedam Centrum and Maassluis was opened as a heavy-rail line. The section between Maassluis and Hoek van Holland Strand followed on 1 June 1893. In 1935, the entire route was electrified.

The Stena Line provides ferry service to Harwich International Port in Harwich, England from the Hoek van Holland Haven station. Formerly, other international train services used the line, as far as Moscow or Berlin, as travellers can easily change at Hoek van Holland to the ferry towards Harwich International station in England. Since the opening of the Eurotunnel, the importance of this line has decreased sharply.

On 31 March 2017, the last passenger trains of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen operated on the line, and have been replaced by bus service until the line reopens in September 2017 as part of the Rotterdam Metro. The overhead electrification system is being converted to 750 V DC and the railway stations to metro standards. Also, in Maassluis, a new station, Steendijkpolder, is being constructed, but plans for additional intermediate stations in Schiedam and Hoek van Holland have not been specified. The Hoek van Holland Strand station will also be moved closer to the beach.

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Wikipedia