Maastricht railway station

Maastricht railway station is located in Maastricht in Limburg, Netherlands. It is the main railway station in Limburg's capital city. It is the southern terminus of the Alkmaar–Maastricht intercity service by NS. Additionally, Arriva and the Belgian NMBS serve the station with local trains.

Maastricht
LocationStationsplein, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Coordinates50°51′00″N 5°42′19″E
Line(s)Maastricht–Venlo railway
Maastricht–Aachen railway
Liège–Maastricht railway
Tracks17
Other information
Station codeMt
History
Opened23 October 1853
Services
Preceding station   Nederlandse Spoorwegen   Following station
toward Alkmaar
NS Intercity 800Terminus
toward Enkhuizen
NS Intercity 2900
Arriva
toward Heerlen
Sneltrein 32100
Terminus
toward Heerlen
Stoptrein 32000
toward Roermond
Stoptrein 32400
National Railway Company of Belgium
toward Hasselt
IC 13Terminus
Location
Maastricht
Location within Netherlands

History

The station opened on 23 October 1853 together with the Maastricht–Aachen railway. In 1856, a railway connection to Hasselt was opened. Both lines are now (partially) closed. In 1861, the Liège-Maastricht railway connection was opened. It was not before the opening of the Maastricht–Venlo railway in 1865, that Maastricht was connected to the rest of the Netherlands.

Hallway connecting the main hall to the platforms 1, 2 and 3 and the bus station. Old signs are still visible above the tunnels from the days that border customs were present in this station.

Due to the fortified character of the town, the first railway station was in fact situated outside of Maastricht, within the municipality of Meerssen. The first station was built out of wood, so that in case of enemy attack, the station could quickly be demolished. The municipality borders were adjusted in 1907, thus making the station part of the municipality of Maastricht. The current, brick building was built in 1913, designed by George Willem van Heukelom. Due to the station's international connections, the station housed border customs. Even though trains from Belgium still call at Maastricht, passport and security checks have gone with the implementation of the Schengen Agreement. The former customs space is now used for small shops, such as a flower boutique, Albert Heijn, HEMA and some snack stores.

Plans

There are plans to reopen the line to Hasselt as a tramway. Twice an hour, a tram should run from Maastricht station through the center to the nearby town of Lanaken, and further as a light rail train to Bilzen and Hasselt. The line was planned to open in 2018[1] but was first of all curtailed to the town centre because the bridge was too weak, and is currently scheduled to open in 2024.[2]

Train services

The following train services call at this station:

  • Express services:
    • NS intercity: (Schagen–)Alkmaar–Amsterdam–Utrecht–Eindhoven–Maastricht
    • Arriva sneltrein RE 18: Maastricht–Meerssen–Valkenburg–Heerlen–Herzogenrath–Aachen
    • Arriva stoptrein S4: Maastricht Randwyck–Meerssen–Valkenburg-Heerlen
    • SNCB/NMBS Local 13: (Hasselt–Liers–)Liège–Visé–Maastricht

Bus services

City buses
  • 1: Malberg–Brusselse Poort–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Maastricht Randwyck–De Heeg
  • 2: Oud Caberg–Brusselse Poort–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Maastricht Randwyck–De Heeg
  • 3: Wolder–Biesland–Jekerkwartier–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Wittevrouwenveld–Nazareth
  • 4: Maastricht(–Pottenberg–Jekerkwartier–City Centre–Central Station–Wittevrouwenveld)–Berg en Terblijt–Valkenburg
  • 5: Daalhof–Mariaberg–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Maastricht Randwyck–Heugem–Oost-Maarland–Eijsden
  • 6: Daalhof–Mariaberg–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Wittevrouwenveld–Amby
  • 7: Malpertuis–Caberg–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Maastricht City Centre–Jekerdal–Villapark
  • 8: Maastricht(–Boschpoort–City Centre–Central Station–Wittevrouwenveld)–Bemelen–Sibbe–Valkenburg
  • 9: Maastricht Central Station–Beatrixhaven–Borgharen–Itteren–Bunde

Night buses
  • N1: Malberg–Brusselse Poort–Maastricht City Centre–Maastricht Central Station–Randwyck–De Heeg
  • N4: Maastricht City Centre–Scharn–Wittevrouwenveld–Berg en Terblijt–Valkenburg

Regional buses

▪︎15: Eijsden- Maastricht

▪︎30: Sittard–Geleen–Beek–MAA–Meerssen–Maastricht

▪︎57: Maastricht–Gronsveld–Eckelrade–St. Geertruid–Mheer–Noorbeek–Heyenrath–Epen–Mechelen–Partij–Gulpen

▪︎350 (Limburgliner): Maastricht–Cadier en Keer–Margraten–Gulpen–Wahlwiller–Nijswiller–Lemiers–Vaals–Aachen

▪︎610 (school line): Simpelveld–Bocholtz–Nijswiller–Wahlwiller–Gulpen–Margraten–Cadier en Keer–Maastricht

References
  1. http://www.tramvlaanderenmaastricht.nl/#planning
  2. https://www.trammaastrichthasselt.eu/wiewatwaarom/tram-maastricht-hasselt-in-het-kort/
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