D66: Extend Amsterdam Noord/Zuid subway line to Schiphol airport

By Janene Pieters on February 11, 2016 - 09:31
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Construction underway at the Buikslotermeerplein subway station on the Noord-Zuid line. May 24, 2014 (photo: Dries Arnolds / NL Times). (Construction underway at the Buikslotermeerplein subway station on the Noord-Zuid line. May 24, 2014 (photo: Dries Arnolds / NL Times))

The Amsterdam D66 wants the Noord/Zuid subway line to be extended to Schiphol Airport, despite the high costs this may entail. The party submitted a proposal, which is backed by the PvdA and VVD, to start an feasibility study into extending the line as soon as possible, the Telegraaf reports.

According to the parties, Schiphol is well connected to the rest of the world, but the public transport connections to the airport in the Netherlands are below par. They want other public transport options, such as buses and trains, to also be included in the feasibility study.

A previous study, the so-called Social Cost/Benefit Analysis, showed that the benefits of extending the Noord/Zuid subway line to the airport do not actually outweigh the disadvantages. The extra piece of subway would cost around 2.2 billion euros. Traffic alderman Pieter Litjens therefore decided to not investigate this option further for the time being.

"I want this study to show that the subway is the best option", D66 councilor Bart Vink said to the newspaper regarding the demand for a feasibility study. "The cost/job analysis is a useful tool, but traveler sitting outside are not included in this traffic model. You have to keep thinking."

The D66 also demanded more research into the costs on the possible extension of the Noord-Zuid line, AT5 reports. A study is now being done on how the cost of the extension can be lowered and the yields can be increased. "New connections are needed but it should be austere, phased, with a valid budget and be built with as little inconvenience as possible", Vink said to the broadcaster.

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