Woerden–Leiden Railway Future

Woerden–Leiden Railway Future

The section Alphen aan den Rijn - Leiden Lammenschans was to be used by the RijnGouwelijn from the end of 2015. In addition to the short two-track section near Zoeterwoude, the section between Alphen aan den Rijn and Hazerswoude and the section in Leiden would have to be doubled. New tram stops would also be opened in Alphen Leidsche Schouw, Hazerswoude, Zoeterwoude Burgemeester Smeetsweg and Zoeterwoude Meerburg (also called Transferium A4).

These plans were abandoned by the province in May 2012 and replaced by a new plan: HOV-net Zuid-Holland Noord. For the Woerden - Leiden railway line, the plans mean the expansion with 2 sprinters Utrecht-Leiden per hour in each direction, in addition to the existing sprinters. These sprinters would stop at the new stations Hazerswoude-Koudekerk and Zoeterwoude Meerburg. The latter station was later removed from the plans.

From December 2021, the two sprinters per hour will run during the extended morning rush hour (6:00 - 10:00) and the extended evening rush hour (15:00 - 19:00) between Leiden and Alphen aan den Rijn on the entire route between Leiden and Utrecht. Between Leiden and Woerden, where intercity trains stop at all stations, this will provide a fifteen-minute service together with the intercity trains, with an alternate train running between Woerden and Utrecht as an intercity (and continuing to Den Bosch, stopping at all stations) and two as a sprinter to Houten Castellum.

The Gouwespoorbrug near Alphen aan den Rijn is at the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. Plans indicate a nine-month period without train traffic from the end of 2026.

In the long term, the Accelerated Intercity plan must be realised, with the intercity only stopping at Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn and Utrecht, with two additional sprinters serving all stations.

Woerden–Leiden Railway Overview

Woerden–Leiden Railway Total Length: 32.5 km
Woerden–Leiden Railway Track Gauge: standard gauge 1435 mm
Woerden–Leiden Railway Created By: LW
Woerden–Leiden Railway Opened: October 15, 1878
Woerden–Leiden Railway Current Status: in use
Woerden–Leiden Railway Electrified: 1950
Woerden–Leiden Railway Number of Tracks: 1
Woerden–Leiden Railway Track Speed: 120
Woerden–Leiden Railway Security or Train Control: ATB EG
Woerden–Leiden Railway Train Service: NS

Woerden–Leiden Railway Route Map

           line from Utrecht Central
0.0      Woerden
           line to Rotterdam Central
           Woerden Molenvliet
           turnaround track
3.7      Valuer
           Double Wiericke
           Some Wiericke
           Tram line Bodegraven - Gouda dismantled
9.2      Bodegraven
12.4   Swan Dam
           line of Uithoorn broken up
           Gouwe Railway Bridge
           Gouwe
           line of Gouda
17.4   Alphen aan den Rijn
22.4   Hazerswoude-Koudekerk
           HSL-South, Schiphol Airport - Antwerp-Luchtbal
           Weipoortse Vliet
26.8   Zoeterwoude
          Rhine-Schie Canal
30      Leiden Lammenschans
          Tram line Leiden - Scheveningen dismantled
          Leiden Freight Station
31.5  Leiden White Gate
          tram line Leiden - The Hague SS broken up
          Old Rhine
          line from Rotterdam Central
          tram lines from Haarlemmerstraat, Hoge Rijndijk & Scheveningen
32.5 Leiden Central
         tram lines to Katwijk, Haarlem & The Hague.
         line to Amsterdam Central Station line to Weesp