It’s like clockwork. The GVB’s new schedule includes new routes and changes to existing ones. Het Parool runs a story against it, quoting older people who never like change. The reporters can never seem to find people whose lives will be improved by the change, because those riders are not standing at the station where things will get worse.
KLAGEN
NIET KLAGEN
Whether it is buses in the North, the end of tram 3, or even the building of the North South line (remember the silly opposition to that?), the initial hot takes are always negative. Maybe there is a reason why wat de boer niet kent eet hij niet has no English equivelent.
Next year, the GVB is stopping line M53 and switching the destination of M50 from Gein to Gaasperplas. Three metro lines become two. It sounds bad. Newspapers and YouTubers reported: ‘The Gaasperplas branch loses its direct connection to the city center.’ Another equally accurate headline is: ‘Gaasperplas branch gains direct connection to upgraded station Amsterdam Zuid and Amsterdam West.’
Plus everyone wins when different lines don’t run on the same tracks. In that case, problems on one line only affect that line, not others. That’s a big benefit for everyone: a more resilient network dosn’t crumble when there are problems on a stretch of track or with a broken train. But good news doesn’t get clicks. It is possible, as the GVB predicts, that service will improve for everyone.
Thanks to Van der Madeweg, the hero of the whole GVB network. Every ten minutes, seven days a week, an M50 meets the M53 and everyone, whether they come from Amsterdam West or the center, can immediately depart for Gaasperplas or Gein. They either stay on their metro or walk across the same platform INTO A WAITING METRO. Like clockwork. (well, maybe 95% of the time). It’s in the schedule and the trains wait a minute if one is late.. Even if you walk slowly with a cane or are in a wheelchair, you can make that transfer.
The same thing happens on the other platform in reverse. And of course the M54 also runs every ten minutes bringing 5-minute service to or from the busier Gein branch, also on Sunday. That’s excellent service for people going to the Johan Cruyff Arena, AFAS Live, Ziggo Dome, Amsterdamse Poort and Pathe Arena.
If we get five-minute service to all destinations, that is better than today’s service, with service even increasing on the ring line (between the M50 and M51). If the new M50 only runs every ten minutes, then Gaasperplas will have the same service as today (with different people transferring).
Instead we should fight for five minute service on the new M54 between Centraal Station and Gein. That should be the discussion, not ‘getting rid of line 53 is bad.’ Boeren, give it a chance!
