Utrecht's new fast-tram service starts running
Utrecht's highly anticipated fast tram line between Utrecht Central Station and the Science Park officially started running on Monday, after a dress rehearsal on Saturday when people could ride the tram for free. From Monday, the Uithoflijn will run 10 trams per hour along nine stops in both directions, NU.nl and Leeuwarder Courant report.
The Uithoflijn stretches 8 kilometers and services UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University and the HU University of Applied Sciences. The new tram line is meant to replace a bus line, which transported around 25 thousand students and other passengers per day. The tram will run on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. In the course of next year, the intention is to increase the number of trams on the Uithoflijn to 12 trams per hour in both directions.
The fast tram line was given the green light in 2012 and construction started in November 2016, with the plan to open the line in July 2018. Late in 2017 it was announced that the project was delayed due to the renovation of the station area in Utrecht. The project eventually concluded 18 months later than scheduled, and cost 84 million euros more than budgeted.
