Rotterdam College has lost the (tram) track

Khan van Tol, treasurer of DWARS Rotterdam-Rijnmond, writes about the disappearing trams in Rotterdam.

In the United States, the land of cars, suburbs and highways, something remarkable is happening: in recent years, more and more cities there are realising the importance of good public transport. Indeed, in many cities in recent years, so-called systems of streetcars opened. A streetcar is the US name for a tram. In the US, known for its inadequate public transport, new tram systems are now sprouting up.

Then there is the Netherlands, known worldwide precisely for good OV [1]. Yet we increasingly see a decay of our relatively good system: ever higher prices , regular breakdowns on trains and the removal of lines. We also see this happening in Rotterdam: while in America the importance of the tram is recognised, here last month we voted for a plan that we see as a demolition of the Rotterdam tram .

The MRDH (Rotterdam Den Haag Metropolitan Region), the organisation that deals with transport in Rotterdam, The Hague and surrounding areas, released a study earlier this year with their ‘vision’ of Rotterdam's tram in 2030. However, vision is what this plan lacks, as it is mainly an austerity measure: according to this plan, a number of stretches of tramline would be shortened, due to low passenger numbers, accidents and too slow speeds.

Under the MRDH's plan, trams to Hillegersberg (line 4), Erasmus University (line 7), Willemsplein (line 7), Kleiweg (line 8), Sparta (line 8), Schiedam Woudhoek (line 21) and Nieuwe Westen (lines 4 and 8) would disappear partly or completely. Replacing these would be new bus lines connecting to the old tram network. This demolition plan was much debated in the Rotterdam City Council in April, but unfortunately all coalition parties (Leefbaar, VVD, D66 and DENK) voted in favour of the plan. With one adjustment, though: the coalition parties had agreed in the backrooms to keep the tram in Hillegersberg, so that they could present themselves as ‘saviours of the tram’.

We at DWARS Rotterdam-Rijnmond are disappointed with the coalition. The stretches of tram that fall away often serve many young people (who take line 7 or 21 to the EUR), but even more often elderly people: in Hillegersberg, Spangen and the Nieuwe Westen area, many elderly people who have difficulty walking take the tram, because for them the tram is most accessible. Travellers also rate the tram better than all other forms of public transport. Removing this and replacing it with insecure and less accessible bus lines actually turns away travellers and increases transport poverty in a city where it is already such a big problem.

It is also striking how badly the Nieuwe Westen area is affected by the tram plan: this is one of the poorest areas in Rotterdam, where people often also depend on the tram due to money problems. No fewer than two lines will be shortened in this very neighbourhood. That while in relatively affluent Hillegersberg, where the VVD has many voters, the trams will be allowed to keep running. Thus, the people who are most dependent on public transport suffer.

Finally, this tram plan is a danger to greenery in our city. Rotterdam is known as the least clean city in the country [2] thanks, among other things, to the particulate matter emitted by the many cars here. To counter this problem, we do need to reduce car use in the city, which can only be done with good public transport as an alternative. Shortening tram lines is counterproductive. Although we hope that the places where the tram disappears will focus on space for cyclists and buses, we are unfortunately stuck with a coalition that prefers to give way to the car.

We at DWARS Rotterdam-Rijnmond regret that the Rotterdam coalition has gone in this direction. Instead of shortening tram lines, we would prefer to see an expansion: think of a better connection between Hillegersberg and Ommoord, better accessibility at Zuid such as a bank connection with a new metro line that could be extended to Charlois, or a better connection to nearby towns and villages. This is crucial for a sustainable and liveable society.

The fight against the destructive tram plan does not seem to be completely lost yet: the MRDH's plan is still a draft version and the municipality has yet to vote on the final version, so things can still change. DWARS Rotterdam-Rijnmond is therefore calling on the municipality and the MRDH to change course. Instead of cancelling tram lines, Rotterdam and the surrounding area need more trams that run more frequently. Instead of bullying the tram away, we think the tram should be in our streetscape.

“We don't want more asphalt on the streets, we want more green tram tracks! ”

[1] https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/railroad_quality/

[2] https://nos.nl/artikel/2453231-groningen-gezondste-stad-van-nederland-rotterdam-onderaan