Status Operational Opened 1902-1903 Number of tracks single track | Locale The Netherlands Line length 30 km (19 mi) | |
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Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) standard gauge Operator Connexxion (1902-2006 Nederlandse Spoorwegen since 2006) Terminis Ede-Wageningen railway station, Nijkerk railway station | ||
The Nijkerk–Ede-Wageningen railway is a railway line in the Netherlands currently running from Barneveld to Ede-Wageningen. The part between Nijkerk and Barneveld has been demolished. It is also called the Valleilijn ("valley line") or Kippenlijn ("chicken line") in Dutch.
Contents
The line
The Valleilijn is a single track line with passing places at Barneveld Centrum and Lunteren. It runs through the valley where there are many chicken farms and was therefore originally called the Kippenlijn until a project was launched on 10 December 2006.
The line has interchanges with other railway services at Amersfoort and Ede-Wageningen.
History
The line opened on 1 May 1902 as the Kippenlijn from Nijkerk to Ede. The line between Nijkerk and Barneveld Noord closed in 1937 and the whole line was shut on 7 September 1944 because of World War II.
The line re-opened on 20 May 1951 and was electrified for that date as well. The line operates as the Oosterspoorweg between Amersfoort and the Barneveld Noord junction. From there the line is 17 km long and takes 20 minutes to operate from Barneveld Noord to Ede-Wageningen.
Stations
The following stations are on the Valleilijn, including some possible interchanges:
Previous stations
Driedorp, Appel, Dusschoten, Voorthuizen, Barneveld Kruispunt, Meulunteren, Doesburgerbuurt, Stompekamp and Ede Gemeentehuis.
2006 Service improvements
Before 10 December 2006 the line was operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen but on that date Connexxion took over the service and made improvements.
Train
5 new Protos train sets were placed into service, to improve comfort on the line. They wear a special blue Valleilijn livery (See Gallery).
Buses
From 10 December 2006 Veolia also relaunched the bus service 88 (Ede - Wageningen). A Fleet of brand new buses were placed into service in the same Valleilijn livery. This service operates up to every 10 minutes.
Passengers can connect with the train from/to Amersfoort.