Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf

GVB
GVB logo
Overview
Locale Amsterdam
Transit type Tram
Metro
Ferry
Bus
Annual ridership 211 million[1]
Operation
Began operation 1900
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Amsterdam Tram
Amsterdam Metro

The Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf or GVB is the municipal public transport operator for Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, operating metro, tram, bus and ferry services in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area since 2012.

GVB became a private corporation wholly owned by the city of Amsterdam in 2007, and will continue to operate public transport services under a negotiated contract until 2024.[2]

History

The forerunner of the GVB, the Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA) (Amsterdam Municipal Tramway), was established in 1900 by the city after it acquired a private tram company (AOM). In 1925, it introduced its first bus line. In 1943, the GVB acquired its current form when Gemeentetram merged with Gemeenteveren Amsterdam (established in 1897), the municipal ferry company, and got its name Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (municipal transport company). In 1977, it introduced its first metro line. In 1990, it introduced its first light rail line. In 2007 GVB was privatised and hence the full name was abolished.

Network

The GVB operates a number of public transportation networks in and around the city of Amsterdam, including:

In addition, a new metro line, the North/South line, is under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Since 2006 the responsible local authority for all public transport in the greater Amsterdam area is the City Region of Amsterdam / Stadsregio Amsterdam. In 2010 the SRA prolonged the concession (contract) of the GVB for the period 2012–2017. In accordance with the rules for public procurement in the European Union the SRA has to open a call for bids for the next period, which means that another company could be operating the public transport networks in Amsterdam after 2017.

Metro

Main article: Amsterdam Metro

Tram/light rail

Tram routes

Amsterdam Tram
Main article: Trams in Amsterdam

Light rail

Line 51 to Amstelveen runs metro service between Central Station and Station Zuid. At Station Zuid it switches from third rail to pantograph and catenary wires. From there to Amstelveen Centrum it shares its track with tram line 5. The light rail vehicles on this line are capable of using both 600 volt DC and 750 volt DC.

Ferries crossings on the IJ

Amsterdam Ferry
Amsterdam Bus

GVB has offered a ferry connection* between Central Station and Amsterdam Noord for over 100 years. The service is free of charge.[3]

Ferry boat crossings on the Noordzeekanaal

There are three ferry boats: Zaanstad (Hempont), Buitenhuizen (Buitenhuizerpont), and Velsen (Velserpont). The ferries run at least 3 times per hour, 24 hours per day, 7 day per week.[4]

Ticketing

The Amsterdam public transport network falls under the National Tariff System of the Netherlands and the GVB has a few of its own tickets, notably the 24-, 48- and 72- hour tickets. The electronic OV-chipkaart has been the only ticketing system valid in the Amsterdam metro since the summer of 2009, and in the rest of the network (tram, bus) since June 2010. Most trams carry conductors, but as they no longer stamp passengers' strippenkaarten their role has been deskilled; it now consists in ensuring security along with selling the occasional OV-chipkaart and optionally announcing the stops.

References

  1. ↑ GVB (2013). "GVB Resources & numbers". GVB. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Transportation vision 2024". GVB. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  3. ↑ http://en.gvb.nl/ovinmamsterdam/soortenvervoer/Pages/Soorten-vervoer.aspx
  4. ↑ http://en.gvb.nl/ovinmamsterdam/soortenvervoer/Pages/Soorten-vervoer.aspx
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