r/Trams

Delft - The Netherlands

After a 22-year wait, tram 19 will begin running its extension from Delft Station to the TU campus starting this weekend. All sorts of things went wrong during the construction of the tram line: the trams turned out to be heavier than expected and could have disrupted research in the TU’s laboratories. The tram has already been conducting test runs over the past few months, but on Monday morning, students will finally be able to board it for their first ride to class.

The opening brings to a close a long-standing issue that has dragged on for more than twenty years. Due to a series of setbacks, the arrival of the tram was repeatedly delayed.

For example, the old St. Sebastian Bridge was found to be unsuitable for tram traffic, and the tram tracks had to be modified to protect sensitive research equipment from vibrations and electromagnetic radiation.

These setbacks are also reflected in the costs. The approximately two-kilometer stretch cost a total of about 93 million euros. Previously, the estimated cost had been just over 54 million euros.

Tram 19 runs on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. from Delft Station to the university, four times an hour.

Omroep West