Line 53 (Amsterdam Metro)

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	Serie S3 (2 cars) Serie M5 (6 cars) Serie M7 (3 cars)
Daily ridership	60,000 (2019)
History
Opened	16 October 1977 (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	750 V DC (third rail)
Operating speed	70 km/h (45 mph)
Route map Centraal Station metro 52 Nieuwmarkt Waterlooplein Weesperplein turning track Weesperplein Wibautstraat Amstelstation Spaklerweg turning track Spaklerweg metro 51 LCM(Logistiek Centrum Metro) Yard A 10 metro 50 Van der Madeweg metro 50 54 Amsterdam–Arnhem railway underpass Weesp–Leiden railway underpass Venserpolder Diemen-Zuid Yard Verrijn Stuartweg stabling track Verrijn Stuartweg Ganzenhoef Kraaiennest A 9 Gaasperplas Gaasperplas Yard

Metro Line 53 (Dutch: Metrolijn 53), also known as the Gaasperplas Line (Gaasperplaslijn), is a line of the Amsterdam Metro running between Amsterdam Centraal and Gaasperplas metro station in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. It is the eastern branch of the Oostlijn.

The Weesperplein–Gaasperplas route was opened on 14 October 1977 and replaced the busy bus line 56. On 11 October 1980, the extension from Weesperplein to Centraal Station followed. Until 2013, almost only type M1, M2 and M3 rolling stock were in service on this line, which were built for this line between 1973 and 1980. In the period 2013-2015, these were gradually replaced by the new M5. Since then, CAF rolling stock has also been in service, and from 2019 to 2024 with S1/S2 light rail rolling stock. The latter rolling stock was replaced by the new M7 from 2023.

Service

Route	Train Frequency
	Rush-hour and daytime	Morning till 7:00, evenings after 20:00 and weekends till 10:00	Evenings till 20:00 and weekends after 10:00	Midsummer Rush-hour and daytime	Midsummer mornings till 07:00, evenings and weekends
Gaasperplas ↔ Centraal Station	10 minutes	15 minutes	12 minutes	12 minutes	15 minutes

Station list

Line	Station	Transfers	Borough
	Centraal Station	51 Line 51 52 Line 52 54 Line 54 Amsterdam–Rotterdam Line Amsterdam–Schiphol Line Amsterdam–Elten Line Amsterdam–Zutphen Line Amsterdam–Schiphol Line Den Helder–Amsterdam Line	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 Line
	Spaklerweg	51 Line 51 54 Line 54
	Van der Madeweg	50 Line 50 54 Line 54
	Venserpolder
	Diemen Zuid	Weesp–Leiden Line	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.

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. Metro service was resumed on Wednesday April 9 at 12:00.

Trivia

In the early years, the metro stations Venserpolder and Diemen Zuid were still in a barren plain, and the number of passengers using those stations was almost zero. The stations were often called by the drivers as 'Kleipolder' (Clay polder) and 'Niemandsland' (No man's land). Also, when the development of Duivendrecht and Diemen Zuid station increased, there was no possibility to enter the metro station from that side. Only later did this become possible.

Gallery

• 
  The older LHB M3 rolling stock arrining at Kraaiennest station (1992)
• 
  Line 50 at Diemen Zuid towards Gaasperplas using M4 rolling stock, during the line 53 replacement between Van der Madeweg and Gaasperplas (2013)
• 
  A M5 series train pulling into Amstel station
• 
  Two M5 series rolling stocks near Venserpolder station