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Terminus loop opposite Madurodam
1 July 2009 – After a two-week running-in period the tram terminus loop opposite Madurodam was officially opened. The driver of tram 8K allowed a somewhat hesitant Secretary of State Huizinga of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management to take over for a circuit of the terminus loop. Alderman Smits, on behalf of the Haaglanden metropolitan district, welcomed the invited guests who had made the ride from Central Station.
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1) Alderman Smits and Secretary of State Huizinga about to unwrap the tram stop shelter.
2) Looking back towards Madurodam from tram 8K.
3) Job done, State Secretary Huizinga returns to her office across the road to deal with other matters.
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The terminus actually went into service on 15 June and for the time being will only be used by tram 8K (= 8 Kort/Short). This additional service will run on the tram 9 route during peak hours between Madurodam and Central Station.
Terminus loop at Madurodam goes into service
 On Monday 15 June, the terminus loop near Madurodam will go into service and the Madurodam stop for trams 5 and 9 relocated on the other side of the junction.
The terminus loop will be used for the extra trams with the number 8K that will run during the morning and evening peak hours on the busiest section of the line between Den Haag Centraal Station and Madurodam.
Tram line 9 to get extra trams in peak hours
There have been several reports in the press about changes to the tram 9 service. Out of the blue came the idea to submerge the tramline running along Koninginnegracht in an underpass at the busy junctions with Dr. Kuyperstraat, Javastraat and laan Copes van Cattenburch. However if this is done it will mean that the underpass will have to start at the Dierentuinbrug (opposite Houtweg and Nieuwe Uitleg on Koninginnegracht) and only surface again at Sumatrastraat. What happens to the tram stops? Will they be in the underpass too and be reached by steps or a lifts? Is there space and are there funds to do this? Or will the stops be relocated along the route at surface level at points that might not necessarily be the most logical. It also begs the question: how does this tally with the fact that this is a conservation area. There was also the idea to relocate the route along Raamweg, but then it would have to go completely underground. Considering the chaos it would cause to accomplish such a plan, this seems highly unlikely.
Peak hour service
Another point concerning route 9 is the introduction of extra rush-hour services between Central Station and Madurodam. A good idea it would seem. But already during peak times, tram 9 runs every 5 minutes in both directions. If this is not properly synchronized, there could be a tram at the busy junctions every 2.5 minutes. So with the extra service this could become every 75 seconds. Taking into account how long each tram takes to cross each junction, there would be almost no time for the traffic lights to change colour to allow the road traffic through; unless they are made to wait. Another reason why the CentrumRing should be rerouted to Professor Teldersweg!
Terminus loop
There is enough space at Central Station for the trams to turn and there are already are stakes in the grass around the Homomonument at the Wittebrug that are evidently for the terminus loop there.
B. Feenstra: A&W Wijkkrant/Community Newspaper February 2009
The busy number 9 tram service is to get a temporary terminus loop near Madurodam at the end of Koninginnegracht just before George Maduroplein. This will enable the deployment of extra trams during peak hours on the busiest section of the line between Den Haag Centraal Station and Madurodam. The terminus will come into service in spring 2009 for a period of five years. By then a permanent solution is expected to be found.
The effect of the temporary terminus loop on the surrounding neighbourhood will be limited. The plans will be available for public viewing from 11 December.
City Management Service, 2 December 2008
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