Rotterdam Metro saved by art!

[PeterC]

Looks to me like the extension of about 400m beyond de Akkers station contains a servicing area for the metro trains.
The whale art structure is no doubt to relieve the stark appearance of the abrupt end of the viaduct, but it was superbly placed to catch the train.
As you say there seems to be a corridor to extend the line through the immediate housing development, but the landscape beyond is pretty empty, as least for now.

Looking at the open corridor and the empty fields to west I suspect provision for an urban expansion that hasn't taken place.

 

[jopsuk]

The corridor beyond De Akkers station was indeed intentionally left unbuilt, this to allow an extension to Hellevoetsluis and Brielle. Especially Hellevoetsluis has a quite large commuter flow to Rotterdam (the town expanded rapidly in the 70s and 80s to house commuters working in Rotterdam and the harbour), with buses towards Spijkenisse running every 5 minutes during rush hour. The same applies to Brielle, which has up to 10 buses an hour towards Spijkenisse.

So there's actually a quite significant demand for public transport there, although currently there are no plans to extend the metro line. Instead a bus lane with grade separated intersections was built, allowing to also serve the intermediate villages frequently.

Seems there used to be a diesel (and before that steam) "tram" line there (nothing on English Wikipedia) as part of RTM

 

[Bald Rick]

If I was a mod I would now be saying that’s enough whale-based puns.

- fin -

 

[Philip Phlopp]

It's a whale of a tale.

[Ed: That's quite enough of that]

 

[dutchflyer]

From the news here: today it will be taken off by crane. Actually it did not really REST on the (reinforced plastic artwork) whale-tales, this was just an extraordinary coincidence.
People are strongly urged to NOT come to the scene-its all on some live VDO-report to be found (live screens).

 

[ashkeba]

Seems there used to be a diesel (and before that steam) "tram" line there (nothing on English Wikipedia) as part of RTM

Not on the line of the viaduct but parallel to north by now Tramdijk by the N492. The Zuidland-Hellevoetsluis way might be usable by a future extension but is now a cycleway, like so many old Rotterdam area tram ways.

 

[2192]

I'd leave the train there - it improves the sculpture...

What is the plan for removing the train? Is it a write-off, or can it be done carefully?

 

[duesselmartin]

What is the plan for removing the train? Is it a write-off, or can it be done carefully?

Kerp it as additional art?

 

[biko]

What is the plan for removing the train? Is it a write-off, or can it be done carefully?

It has now been removed and taken to a storage location where it will be examined by the inspectorate. No idea yet if it can be repaired (I don't think so, but you never know)

 

[DanielB]

The coupling between the two carriages of the trainset which left the viaduct had to be cut to enable the removal by crane. So repairing probably won't be that easy. The other trainsets which were part of the derailed train only suffered minor damage, so these will probably be repaired.
Covid will also play a role in the descision probably: all operators in The Netherlands have to cut costs in 2021 to be eligible for the second part of the government support. And passenger figures are expected to slowly recover so it might be that RET can do with one trainset less.