Station code Gvc Architect Koen van der Gaast | Opened September 1973 Platforms in use 10 | |
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Location Koningin Julianaplein 102595 AA The HagueNetherlands Similar | ||
Den Haag Centraal ( [dɛn ˌɦaːx sɛnˈtraːl]; In English: The Hague Central) (IATA: ZYH) is the largest railway station in the Dutch city of The Hague and, with twelve tracks, the largest terminal station in the Netherlands. The station was completed in 1973, next to the older station Den Haag Staatsspoor, which was then demolished. It is the western terminus of the Gouda–Den Haag railway.
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History
The oldest station in The Hague is Den Haag Hollands Spoor (The Hague Holland's Rail) on the main line from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, opened in 1843 by the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij (Holland's Iron Railroad Company). This station was built at some distance from the city centre.
In 1870, the Nederlandsche Rhijnspoorweg-Maatschappij (Dutch Rhine-railroad Company) opened a second station in The Hague, Den Haag Rijnspoor (The Hague Rhine Rail) for trains to Gouda and Utrecht. This station was built much closer to the city centre. From 1888 this railroad was the property of the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen (State Railway Operation Company); the station was renamed Den Haag Staatsspoor ("The Hague State Rail").
In the 1970s, Nederlandse Spoorwegen decided to build a new Central Station in The Hague and it was decided to build the new station next to Staatsspoor station. The old station was demolished after the new station was completed. A chord was also built to connect the station to the line to Amsterdam. Although Centraal station is the largest station in The Hague, it is served by onlyterminating trains; Intercity and international trains travelling between Amsterdam and Rotterdam stop only at Hollands Spoor station. Now, The Hague is the only city in the Netherlands which still has two major railway stations.
The main hall of Den Haag Centraal is currently undergoing a renovation in order to increase the railway station's capacity. The roof has been replaced. It is now higher, and made of glass plates placed in a framework of stainless steel. Moreover, more commercial space has been added next to both side entrances, and new tiling is due to be placed. The renovation was planned to finish by the end of 2014 but is still going on as of July 2015.
Train services
The following services call at Den Haag Centraal:
Tram services
Den Haag Centraal is an HTM Personenvervoer public transportation hub. The railway station features two tram stations; one on a platform above the rail tracks and one parallel to them, outside the south-western entrance.
Besides the Tramservices offered by the HTM, the Rotterdam-based RET runs a metro from the station via Leidschenveen and Pijnacker to the Rotterdam Metro system.
Bus services
There is a bus platform above the rail roads, which is connected to the Prins Bernhardviaduct running over the tracks. The platform is accessible from the station's main hall. Several city and regional lines of three different carriers stop here. HTM's bus lines starting with an N are night buses and only run on Fridays and Saturdays.