As of 2019[update], the IJtram was the busiest tram line in Amsterdam,[2] carrying 30,000 riders per day.

[4] It is of existential importance to the IJburg district, as it is the only public transport connection to the city centre for a suburb that is growing to a population of 45,000.

The line continues through a short tunnel under Piet Heinkade, to enter the Rietlandpark stop, which lies in an open pit requiring tram riders to use stairs or lifts to go between the street and platform levels.

[9] For safety reasons, only one coupled pair of trams is allowed in the Piet Hein Tunnel per direction of travel.

[6] All trams using the tunnel must be equipped with ATB, a Dutch implementation of Automatic Train Control.

Payment could still be made via OV-chipkaart or by a credit or debit card having a personal identification number.

[15] In October 2019, an alternative turning circle for the IJtram was completed on the IJ side of Centraal Station for use when events such as Koningsdag or Gay Pride block the regular stop on Stationsplein.

Work on the loop had started in March 2008, and was completed in time for track replacement on Stationsplein in 2020.

[16][7] Due to growth in the number of residents in the IJburg area plus riders from the park-and-ride facility on Zeeburgereiland,[17] the line had reached its capacity using single trams.

[7][13] Between mid 2024 and 2029, ProRail will be rebuilding the railway bridges east of Centraal Station, thus preventing the passage of trams under them.

[19] By 2018, there were proposals, costing at least 330 million euros, to expand tram service to IJburg to handle traffic from 8,000 planned new residences.