International efforts to link Almere and Amsterdam
Six companies from various countries have been selected to develop a vision for addressing the “IJmeerverbinding”. This public transport line will connect two cities in the Amsterdam Area to each other – namely, Almere and Amsterdam, which are currently separated by the IJmeer (a large lake).
Vision and plan of action
Six companies will have until February 2011 to develop a vision and plan of action for the possibility of building either a bridge or a tunnel. Three finalists will be chosen to continue developing their plans until the end of 2012, at which time the Dutch government will decide which plan will become a reality.
International efforts
To come up with the best possible solution, domestic as well as international companies have been selected to compete. The companies that are currently developing a vision and plan of action are: URS-Scott Wilson (United States with Dutch partners), Jacobs Engineering (U.S.), Germany’s Transrapid Consortium, Mott MacDonald/MNO Vervat BV (United Kingdom with Dutch partners), Movares (the Netherlands) and Arup (Australia with an Austrian partner.
Proven track record
The selected companies are consortia involved in national and international projects. They have already been involved in a number of high-level projects including the Crossrail Cross London Rail Link in the U.K., the Docklands Light Railway in London, U.K., the Channel Tunnel, connecting the U.K. to France, the High-Speed Line South between the Netherlands and Belgium, the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. and the California High-Speed Rail in Los Angeles, U.S. In order to allow the companies ample creative freedom, a bare minimum of fixed requirements have been determined.
Attractive for international companies
The new connection between Almere and Amsterdam will make a positive contribution to the already excellent infrastructure in the Amsterdam Area and make the region even more attractive for international companies. Major port complexes are within a 50 kilometre radius and the region offers international rail links and close proximity to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol,
International trade hub
Due to its strategic geographical location, the region has always been a major transit hub for people, goods, capital and services to and from the 350 million potential customers on the European continent.
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