Line 53 (Amsterdam Metro)

Line 53 (Dutch: Metrolijn 53), also known as the Gaasperplas Line (Dutch: Gaasperplaslijn), is a line of the Amsterdam Metro system. It runs between Amsterdam Centraal in the city center and Gaasperplas metro station in the southeastern neighborhood of Bijlmermeer, a modernist planned community built around the metro line.^[1] The line forms the eastern branch of the Oostlijn (East Line).

Line 53
A M5 series train in Kraaiennest station
Overview
Native name	Metrolijn 53 / Gaasperplaslijn
Owner	Amsterdam Metro
Locale	Amsterdam and Diemen
Termini	Amsterdam Centraal Gaasperplas
Stations	14
Color on map	Red
Service
Type	Rapid transit
Operator(s)	GVB
Rolling stock	S3/M4 M5 M7
Daily ridership	60,000 (2019)
History
Opened	16 October 1977; 47 years ago (16 October 1977)
Technical
Line length	11.7 km (7.3 mi)
Number of tracks	Double-track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Third rail, 750 V DC
Operating speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
Route map Show static map Legend Centraal Station 52 Nieuwmarkt Waterlooplein Weesperplein turning track Weesperplein Wibautstraat Amstelstation Spaklerweg turning track Spaklerweg 51 Logistiek Centrum Metro Yard A 10 50 Van der Madeweg 50 54 Amsterdam–Arnhem railway Weesp–Leiden railway Venserpolder Diemen-Zuid Yard Verrijn Stuartweg turning track Verrijn Stuartweg Ganzenhoef Kraaiennest A 9 Gaasperplas Gaasperplas Yard This diagram: view talk edit Show route diagram

The initial segment of the line, between Weesperplein and Gaasperplas, opened on 14 October 1977, replacing the former bus line 56. An extension to Amsterdam Centraal was completed on 11 October 1980.^[2]

Line 53 is 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi) and includes 14 stations. It runs underground through central Amsterdam, emerging to the surface as it travels alongside NS railway lines. After Duivendrecht, the line diverges onto its own dedicated, largely elevated right-of-way through Amsterdam-Zuidoost.

In its early years, several stations such as Venserpolder and Diemen Zuid were located in undeveloped areas, resulting in minimal passenger use at the time.

Until 2013, the line was primarily operated using M1, M2, and M3 rolling stock, which were built between 1973 and 1980 specifically for the Oostlijn. These units were gradually phased out and replaced by the M5 series between 2013 and 2015. The M7 series later entered service beginning in 2023.

Service

Train frequency

Time period	Frequency
Rush hour and daytime	10 minutes
Early morning (before 07:00), evenings (after 20:00), and weekends (before 10:00)	15 minutes
Evenings (until 20:00) and weekends (after 10:00)	12 minutes
Midsummer rush hour and daytime	12 minutes
Midsummer early morning, evenings, and weekends	15 minutes

Station list

Station	Transfers	Borough
Centraal Station	51 Line 51 52 Line 52 54 Line 54 Amsterdam–Rotterdam railway Amsterdam–Schiphol railway Amsterdam–Arnhem railway Amsterdam–Zutphen railway Den Helder–Amsterdam railway	Centrum
Nieuwmarkt	51 Line 51 54 Line 54
Waterlooplein	51 Line 51 54 Line 54
Weesperplein	51 Line 51 54 Line 54
Wibautstraat	51 Line 51 54 Line 54	Oost
Amstel	51 Line 51 54 Line 54 Amsterdam–Arnhem railway
Spaklerweg	51 Line 51 54 Line 54
Van der Madeweg	50 Line 50 54 Line 54
Venserpolder
Diemen Zuid	Weesp–Leiden railway	Diemen
Verrijn Stuartweg
Ganzenhoef		Zuidoost
Kraaiennest
Gaasperplas

Derailments

On Wednesday, April 20, 1983, the last car of a 3 car train derailed next to the Centraal Station. Getting the train back on the rails was a lengthy job due to the limited space inside the tunnel. As a result, Metro traffic between the Centraal Station and Nieuwmarkt was halted for 3 days.^[3]

On Monday April 7, 2008 another train derailed in the same area, resulting in the halting of metro traffic on this section for 2 days.^[4] Metro service was resumed on Wednesday April 9 at 12:00.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  M3 train arriving at Kraaiennest station (1992)
• 
  Line 50 at Diemen Zuid, operating with M4 rolling stock during Line 53 replacement service between Van der Madeweg and Gaasperplas (2013)
• 
  An M5 series train arriving at Amstel station
• 
  Two M5 series trains near Venserpolder station