PLANS to develop dual-mode light rail services in the Netherlands moved ahead last month, when Den Haag transport operator HTM ordered six LRVs from Bombardier. Based on the Stockholm A32 cars, they are due for delivery by the end of 2002. To be built in Wien at a cost of €1·8m each, the 29·7m low-floor cars will have four 120 kW Alstom motors and a top speed of 80 km/h. Alstom Traxis chopper controls will allow operation on 1·5 kV as well as 750 V DC.
From 2003 the cars will operate a half-hourly service on the 18 km branch between Gouda and Alphen aan de Rijn, where eight stops with 300mm high platforms will augment the three existing stations. NS Reizigers will continue to run peak-hour through services from Gouda to Leiden, helping to prove the concept of dual-mode operation in the Netherlands. By 2009, the Rijn-Gouwe light rail project envisages the dual-mode cars continuing over NS tracks from Alphen aan den Rijn to Leiden Lammenschans, and then on a new tram route through Leiden to the coastal towns of Katwijk and Noordwijk.
