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FeedsHome: December / January 2012 › RET Rotterdam -Improving journeys
RET Rotterdam -Improving journeys
05/01/2012 | Channel: Infrastructure, Rolling Stock, Freight, Business Improvement, New Products & Services
RET N.V. Integral company
Age: 135 years
Approx: 3000 employees
Integral Public Transport network
Public transport services and
infrastructure maintenance
The overall management of RET is the responsibility of chief executive officer Pedro Peters. The organisation consists of three main divisions – Transport, Finance, and Technique.
RET transports more than 600,000 passengers per day: by bus, tram, metro and one Fast Ferry over water. RET is dedicated to the city and its inhabitants, and in this way hopes to make some contribution to both the ease of getting around and the quality of life within the energetic city of Rotterdam and its dynamic surroundings.
In line with the company motto ‘the passenger is both our point of departure and our destination,’ RET’s goal is for ever more satisfied passengers. This is achieved through:
An interurban rail connection between The Hague and Rotterdam.
RandstadRail (RaRa) is a renewed 60 kilometre light rail connection between The Hague and Rotterdam’s city centre, which extends the existing metro network known as the Erasmus or ‘E’ metro line towards the south side of Rotterdam.
Six newly designed and constructed metro stations in the Rotterdam region together with upgraded existing stations, and a 2.4 kilometre bi-directional rail tunnel, form the renewed light rail connection.
This 2.4 kilometre tunnel was the first bored tunnel in the Netherlands within an urban area, and was constructed using a 70 metre long tunnel boring machine. This
tunnel has a second notable claim as the ‘Blijdorp’ station, built at a depth of 20 metres, is the deepest station within the Netherlands. The E metro line runs through the new colourful Rotterdam Central Station (RCS), where international travel transfers are made, and the metro meets up with regular heavy rail and the HSL– high-speed track.
RaRa with its new rolling stock not only connects two cities but also all the intermediate towns with a densely frequent (every ten minutes), fast, comfortable and reliable service. All RaRa station platforms and vehicles are easily accessible to wheelchair users.
RET was involved by providing the expertise in various fields of engineering.
The total project costs are: €630 millionThe period of execution: 2003 –2011Two traction projects by Cegelec
Cegelec is a specialist in the area of rail transportation infrastructure, from the installation of traction power supply and operating systems to the creation of turnkey integrated systems. It participates in the development of railway and urban transport infrastructures in Europe, and throughout the world, in close collaboration with its customers and partners such as RET in the Netherlands.
In co-operation with the RET project team, Cegelec realised the systems and installations for the traction power supply for the Randstadrail and Erasmus line. The rectifier stations cover the electrical power distribution for the 60 kilometre track of the light rail RandstadRail between Den-Haag and Rotterdam.
Cegelec is involved in the following projects:
The period of execution: autumn 2006 – autumn 2011RaRa: Rail track safety project by Siemens
The RET aims to connect the RandstadRail infrastructure between The Hague and Rotterdam’s local rail network in order to expand its operational light rail service. This project in fact entails two elements simultaneously: The ‘Statenwegtunnel’, a tunnel section and the conversion of the Central Station of Rotterdam (RCS).
This will finalise the connection and provide passengers with a safe and swift alternative for the automotive connection between the two cities
Statenwegtunnel:
RET is currently executing the complete renovation of its metro signalling system on the Erasmus and the Caland lines (55km of double track with 42 interlocking installations). In a rigorous tender process with particular focus on LCC aspects such as maintenance costs and performance improvements, on the migration strategy and on the overall availability of the system, RET has selected GE Transportation as its contract partner for the execution of this project. This includes the replacement of all interlockings, both in the stations and the depots, all track circuits and the entire ATP system, the supply of a back-up office system for the control centre and all cabling between the interlockings and the wayside elements.
The old, mostly relay-based interlockings, will be replaced by GE’s VHLC interlockings in a redundant configuration. GE uses its AFTC train detection and has developed a new ATP transmitter board, based on the Siemens LZB801 protocol, to be compatible with the onboard ATP of the RET trains. A redundant fibre optic network connects the different locations with RET’s control centre. A protocol convertor was developed to communicate with RET’s VKL back office system.
The first three installations are scheduled to go into service at the end of this year.
The total project costs are: €93 million
The period of execution: autumn 2008 – autumn 2015Rolling stock: New metro and tram vehiclesMetro stock: 22 type RSG3
RET operates the Rotterdam - The Hague two-way inter-urban light rail track, locally referred to as RandstadRail, with Bombardier FLEXITY Swift vehicles. The three-piece vehicles are 42 metres long each, carrying in total 270 passengers, and furnished with red plush luxury seat upholstery. The vehicles have roof-mounted air conditioning and a specialised air suspension enabling them to whizz comfortably to their destinations. They are also equipped with cameras for improved public safety and are designed to meet the highest European standards for impact resistance and fire safety.
Project costs: ca. €105 million
Constructed: 2007 - 2009
Metro stock: 42 type SG3
By replacing the 69 piece light rail metro with 42 vehicles of the longer RSG3 type, also from Bombardier, on the old subway lines, RET can offer a significantly higher passenger comfort level and overall quality of urban travelling.
Project costs: ca. €175 million
Constructed: 2007 – 2012Highlights: except the colour of the vehicles the RSG3 are identical.
Tram stock – Citadis:
The RET in 2006 decided to buy and deploy 53 new trams of Alstom type Citadis-I. At the same time it was then decided that Citadis-II would be the successor to Citadis-I.
Project costs: ca. €130 million
Planned construction: 2007 – 2012
Highlights of the Citadis-II:
With the introduction of the new Citadis trams, and the increasing demand for local transport, the RET requires more space and modern maintenance equipment for its fleet of 85 trams and offices. The newly developed Beverwaard tram depot is built on a sustainable basis as part of the TramStore21 project in a P&R concept enabling passengers to park their car and directly access the trams. On the 19,000 square metre site RET built a 6000 square metre maintenance hall and a tram stabling area of 13,000 square metres. The company carefully utilised this space to maximum benefit with 500 P&R spaces on the roof, and tram stabling below.
The location was chosen with great care:
The period of execution: 2009-2011RET: dREIS project
In the metropolitan region of Rotterdam, a total of 821 functional, pole-mounted real-time-based travel information displays have been installed. This ambitious project known as ‘dReis’ was commissioned by RET to be carried out by SPIE Netherlands BV. SPIE won the tender for the project based on its specific design and technology, as the original column design was tailored to the style of the Erasmus Bridge.
A change in RET deployment policy led to the introduction of a new, more compact design at an early stage of the project. This new design has since been deployed all across the City Region.
The display panel not only informs passengers of real-time arrivals, it also supplies additional information like delay times or detour information given by the central traffic control centre (CVL).
Also available is a service and maintenance tool, which minimizes the disruption of the operational information service for the passenger.
The total project costs are: €13 million
The period of execution: Mid 2009 – 2011Tunnel safety
RET will soon complete a programme to upgrade the safety level for the four stations on the Erasmus line metro, following four years of research, including Quantified Risk Analysis. Fire safety proposals for new and existing stations and tunnels in the Netherlands need to pass with a positive advice from the Dutch Safety Commission. With local stakeholders (re. fire brigade) and the supplier for the ventilation installations, RET was able to reach the Dutch standards for tenable evacuation routes. In total, 1800 passengers (including the metro with 900 passengers capacity) can be evacuated in around five minutes from two platforms to a safe area. There is also the option to improve the evacuation route with an emergency bridge, across the space between the two platforms.
Highlights:
Timetable: start research: 2007 / building execution: 2009-2011Hoekse Lijn light rail
This project involves the upgrading and improvement of the 26 kilometre long railway line of ProRail (the Dutch railway infrastructure administrator) to a high quality light rail connection between the centre of Rotterdam and the town Hoek van Holland in the coastal area.
The existing stations will be converted to metro stations suited for light rail and two additional new stations will also be built. All stations are of the same design and quality level as the other remaining 58 metro RET stations.
The light rail metro concept – in comparison to heavy rail – will offer a cheaper, faster means of transport and will attract more passengers by halting at intermediate towns and urban districts. The new line extends and hooks up to the existing subway system around Rotterdam. The map shows the projected line along the suburbs of Rotterdam to the coastal area.
The result will be a high-end market transportation product; fast, high-frequency, comfortable vehicles, real-time travel information, safe and convenient stations.
Planning forecast: 2013 - 2015 (after government decision realisation is possible within four years)
Contract: ProRail, RET, Rotterdam Metropolitan Region, the Dutch Government.Article by:
Klaas Smit, manager of engineering office, & Albert van der Zalm, Tunnel safety advisor
Translation: Eric Stenstra (RET)
RET
Tel: (010) 447 69 11
Email: KSMIT@ret.nl
Web: www.ret.nl
RET transports more than 600,000 passengers per day: by bus, tram, metro and one Fast Ferry over water. RET is dedicated to the city and its inhabitants, and in this way hopes to make some contribution to both the ease of getting around and the quality of life within the energetic city of Rotterdam and its dynamic surroundings.
In line with the company motto ‘the passenger is both our point of departure and our destination,’ RET’s goal is for ever more satisfied passengers. This is achieved through:
- lHigh frequency services
- Reliable transportation
- Well-designed connections
- Quality and modern materials
- Friendly and proud staff
- Safe travel
- Projects rolled out
- Projects in execution
- Project plans.
An interurban rail connection between The Hague and Rotterdam.
RandstadRail (RaRa) is a renewed 60 kilometre light rail connection between The Hague and Rotterdam’s city centre, which extends the existing metro network known as the Erasmus or ‘E’ metro line towards the south side of Rotterdam.
Six newly designed and constructed metro stations in the Rotterdam region together with upgraded existing stations, and a 2.4 kilometre bi-directional rail tunnel, form the renewed light rail connection.
This 2.4 kilometre tunnel was the first bored tunnel in the Netherlands within an urban area, and was constructed using a 70 metre long tunnel boring machine. This
tunnel has a second notable claim as the ‘Blijdorp’ station, built at a depth of 20 metres, is the deepest station within the Netherlands. The E metro line runs through the new colourful Rotterdam Central Station (RCS), where international travel transfers are made, and the metro meets up with regular heavy rail and the HSL– high-speed track.
RaRa with its new rolling stock not only connects two cities but also all the intermediate towns with a densely frequent (every ten minutes), fast, comfortable and reliable service. All RaRa station platforms and vehicles are easily accessible to wheelchair users.
RET was involved by providing the expertise in various fields of engineering.
The total project costs are: €630 millionThe period of execution: 2003 –2011Two traction projects by Cegelec
Cegelec is a specialist in the area of rail transportation infrastructure, from the installation of traction power supply and operating systems to the creation of turnkey integrated systems. It participates in the development of railway and urban transport infrastructures in Europe, and throughout the world, in close collaboration with its customers and partners such as RET in the Netherlands.
In co-operation with the RET project team, Cegelec realised the systems and installations for the traction power supply for the Randstadrail and Erasmus line. The rectifier stations cover the electrical power distribution for the 60 kilometre track of the light rail RandstadRail between Den-Haag and Rotterdam.
Cegelec is involved in the following projects:
- Randstadrail traction power supply systems and installations
- Restructuring traction power distribution for the new Grand Central Station in Rotterdam
- Fully integrated SCADA traction monitoring and traction safety systems
- Restructuring Erasmus line and Statenwegtunnel traction power supply C2000 Special Coverage Location for safety government communication
- Rail signalling installations central station for Siemens.
The period of execution: autumn 2006 – autumn 2011RaRa: Rail track safety project by Siemens
The RET aims to connect the RandstadRail infrastructure between The Hague and Rotterdam’s local rail network in order to expand its operational light rail service. This project in fact entails two elements simultaneously: The ‘Statenwegtunnel’, a tunnel section and the conversion of the Central Station of Rotterdam (RCS).
This will finalise the connection and provide passengers with a safe and swift alternative for the automotive connection between the two cities
Statenwegtunnel:
- Project costs: €5.2 million
- Availability: according to RandstadRail lot 1
- Performance: headway 240 seconds
- Type of rail track safety system: Sicas S7 ZUBTM 222
- Project costs: €4.5 million
- Project planning: 2008 - August 2011
- Performance: within 360 second to allow three metro vehicles to turn and simultaneously let a RandstadRail vehicle pass by
- Type of rail track safety system: DrsÜ (relay technology)
- Project Management;
- Rail track security engineering (track equipment, interlocking and centralised traffic control) and interface
- Fibre optic network engineering
- Installation and assembly of track equipment including interface and fibre optic network
- Testing and commissioning
- Providing training and user documentation.
RET is currently executing the complete renovation of its metro signalling system on the Erasmus and the Caland lines (55km of double track with 42 interlocking installations). In a rigorous tender process with particular focus on LCC aspects such as maintenance costs and performance improvements, on the migration strategy and on the overall availability of the system, RET has selected GE Transportation as its contract partner for the execution of this project. This includes the replacement of all interlockings, both in the stations and the depots, all track circuits and the entire ATP system, the supply of a back-up office system for the control centre and all cabling between the interlockings and the wayside elements.
The old, mostly relay-based interlockings, will be replaced by GE’s VHLC interlockings in a redundant configuration. GE uses its AFTC train detection and has developed a new ATP transmitter board, based on the Siemens LZB801 protocol, to be compatible with the onboard ATP of the RET trains. A redundant fibre optic network connects the different locations with RET’s control centre. A protocol convertor was developed to communicate with RET’s VKL back office system.
The first three installations are scheduled to go into service at the end of this year.
The total project costs are: €93 million
The period of execution: autumn 2008 – autumn 2015Rolling stock: New metro and tram vehiclesMetro stock: 22 type RSG3
RET operates the Rotterdam - The Hague two-way inter-urban light rail track, locally referred to as RandstadRail, with Bombardier FLEXITY Swift vehicles. The three-piece vehicles are 42 metres long each, carrying in total 270 passengers, and furnished with red plush luxury seat upholstery. The vehicles have roof-mounted air conditioning and a specialised air suspension enabling them to whizz comfortably to their destinations. They are also equipped with cameras for improved public safety and are designed to meet the highest European standards for impact resistance and fire safety.
Project costs: ca. €105 million
Constructed: 2007 - 2009
Metro stock: 42 type SG3
By replacing the 69 piece light rail metro with 42 vehicles of the longer RSG3 type, also from Bombardier, on the old subway lines, RET can offer a significantly higher passenger comfort level and overall quality of urban travelling.
Project costs: ca. €175 million
Constructed: 2007 – 2012Highlights: except the colour of the vehicles the RSG3 are identical.
Tram stock – Citadis:
The RET in 2006 decided to buy and deploy 53 new trams of Alstom type Citadis-I. At the same time it was then decided that Citadis-II would be the successor to Citadis-I.
Project costs: ca. €130 million
Planned construction: 2007 – 2012
Highlights of the Citadis-II:
- Leather seat upholstery
- The tram was reduced in length by 20cm to meet the requirements of the inner city
- Topcooling
- Roof-mounted air conditioning
With the introduction of the new Citadis trams, and the increasing demand for local transport, the RET requires more space and modern maintenance equipment for its fleet of 85 trams and offices. The newly developed Beverwaard tram depot is built on a sustainable basis as part of the TramStore21 project in a P&R concept enabling passengers to park their car and directly access the trams. On the 19,000 square metre site RET built a 6000 square metre maintenance hall and a tram stabling area of 13,000 square metres. The company carefully utilised this space to maximum benefit with 500 P&R spaces on the roof, and tram stabling below.
The location was chosen with great care:
- Low density residential area
- Close to an existing tramline
- Close to a main highway
- Geothermal energy-piled foundation, 512 piles of 20m length each
- Improving quality of environment
- Improving sustainability in building construction
- Managing natural resources
- Low-cost use of energy
The period of execution: 2009-2011RET: dREIS project
In the metropolitan region of Rotterdam, a total of 821 functional, pole-mounted real-time-based travel information displays have been installed. This ambitious project known as ‘dReis’ was commissioned by RET to be carried out by SPIE Netherlands BV. SPIE won the tender for the project based on its specific design and technology, as the original column design was tailored to the style of the Erasmus Bridge.
A change in RET deployment policy led to the introduction of a new, more compact design at an early stage of the project. This new design has since been deployed all across the City Region.
The display panel not only informs passengers of real-time arrivals, it also supplies additional information like delay times or detour information given by the central traffic control centre (CVL).
Also available is a service and maintenance tool, which minimizes the disruption of the operational information service for the passenger.
The total project costs are: €13 million
The period of execution: Mid 2009 – 2011Tunnel safety
RET will soon complete a programme to upgrade the safety level for the four stations on the Erasmus line metro, following four years of research, including Quantified Risk Analysis. Fire safety proposals for new and existing stations and tunnels in the Netherlands need to pass with a positive advice from the Dutch Safety Commission. With local stakeholders (re. fire brigade) and the supplier for the ventilation installations, RET was able to reach the Dutch standards for tenable evacuation routes. In total, 1800 passengers (including the metro with 900 passengers capacity) can be evacuated in around five minutes from two platforms to a safe area. There is also the option to improve the evacuation route with an emergency bridge, across the space between the two platforms.
Highlights:
- Verification of the CFD results (Computer Fluid Dynamics) on the growth of a fire in a metro vehicle through a real fire test in a metro station
- Evacuation modelling with the guiding behavioural measures
- Powerful ventilators with pull and push air action
- Roll down smoke screens across platforms/metro
- Thermal detection in station along the side of pull/push ventilators
Timetable: start research: 2007 / building execution: 2009-2011Hoekse Lijn light rail
This project involves the upgrading and improvement of the 26 kilometre long railway line of ProRail (the Dutch railway infrastructure administrator) to a high quality light rail connection between the centre of Rotterdam and the town Hoek van Holland in the coastal area.
The existing stations will be converted to metro stations suited for light rail and two additional new stations will also be built. All stations are of the same design and quality level as the other remaining 58 metro RET stations.
The light rail metro concept – in comparison to heavy rail – will offer a cheaper, faster means of transport and will attract more passengers by halting at intermediate towns and urban districts. The new line extends and hooks up to the existing subway system around Rotterdam. The map shows the projected line along the suburbs of Rotterdam to the coastal area.
The result will be a high-end market transportation product; fast, high-frequency, comfortable vehicles, real-time travel information, safe and convenient stations.
Planning forecast: 2013 - 2015 (after government decision realisation is possible within four years)
Contract: ProRail, RET, Rotterdam Metropolitan Region, the Dutch Government.Article by:
Klaas Smit, manager of engineering office, & Albert van der Zalm, Tunnel safety advisor
Translation: Eric Stenstra (RET)
RET
Tel: (010) 447 69 11
Email: KSMIT@ret.nl
Web: www.ret.nl
