Rail Force One will be the latest rail freight operator to enter the Dutch market when it launches commercial operations on 1st July.  It becomes the 23rd national freight operator, and will operate out of Pernis, which is on the cusp of the busy network around the Port of Rotterdam.

Its parent group, Rail Innovators Holding, is already well established in the cargo sector, with services including domestic and European operator Rail Logix and freight wagon leasing company RailReLease. Rail Force One will now run their own named transport services, contributing to the 150 freight trains which cross the Dutch border every day.

European market

As well as The Netherlands, Rail Force One will, through its connections, have access to the wider European market, with group partners in Austria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

This is supported by cooperation between Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail and European counterparts such as DB Netze (Germany), SNCF Réseau (France) and ZSR  (Slovakia). This includes implementing fewer rules and regulations, having an international timetable and ensuring a level playing field for loads, lengths and weights of freight trains.