The Noord/Zuidlijn’s concept of safety is based on the safe-haven principle: no matter what happens, a metro train will always continue on to the next station, where all the facilities necessary for bringing passengers to safety will be present. In addition to this, the kinds of material used, the detection systems and the instructions given to personnel are also ways of guaranteeing safety. 
  
The Noord/Zuidlijn Advisory Group drew up a safety concept for the Noord/Zuidlijn in 1999. When emergency services personnel (police, fire brigade, paramedics) came with a number of questions concerning this concept, the Noord/Zuidlijn Project Office asked the Industrial Safety Department of TNO Environment, Energy and Process Innovation (MEP) to perform a countercheck. Their report was presented in April 2000. After Prof. Horvat had reviewed the entire concept in a third opinion, the definitive report was finished in July 2000.

The file on safety issues in connection with the Noord/Zuidlijn is very large. You can find a survey of the reports that we make available here.

In October 2004, the City of Amsterdam and Vereniging de Bovengrondse [the Aboveground Association] decided to carry out a joint study of the safety concept and safety provisions in connection with the future operation of the Noord/Zuidlijn. The goal of the study was to determine which measures would be necessary to improve the safety of the new metro line.

The study ultimately led to the drafting of a ‘Covenant between the City of Amsterdam and Vereniging de Bovengrondse with Regard to the Fire Safety and Evacuation Safety of the Noord/Zuidlijn’. On 21 June 2006, the city council ratified the content of the agreement.

At a festive gathering on Wednesday, 6 December 2006, the Covenant was signed by Amsterdam Alderman Tjeerd Herrema (on behalf of the city) and the executive board of Vereniging de Bovengrondse. Click here to read the Covenant.