Noord-Zuid Line

Amsterdam's new Noord-Zuid subway line will definitely start running on July 22nd, though on a modified timetable, the parties involved announced on Thursday, ANP reports.

The involved parties are confident that service can safely start on the line, which connects Amsterdam Noord to Zuidas, on that date. Though transit company GVB warns that travelers should take teething problems, like disruptions, into account "in the first half year".

Municipal public transit company GVB is calling on Amsterdam to commit to building another new subway line in order to keep up with the city's growth. In addition to the new Noord-Zuid subway line set to start operating next year, an Oost-West line will also be needed, GVB director Alexandra van Huffelen said in an interview with NRC.

A team of about 40 journalists and technicians rode the new Amsterdam Noord-Zuid subway line on Thursday morning, in the first full-scale test run of the route. The subway reached its top speed of about 80 kilometers per hour, taking the observers from Amsterdam Centraal to Amsterdam Zuid, then back north to the final stop at Amsterdam Noord.

Amsterdam is launching an investigation into installing a light rail for use as public transport in the city, the Amsterdam Metropolitan Region announced over the weekend. The aim is to improve the accessibility to the capital

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

Imtech's bankruptcy is having its first effects on the Amsterdam Noord-Zuid subway line. All Imtech employees involved with the line stopped working on Wednesday afternoon after the bankruptcy administrators instructed them to do so.