The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has made a total of approximately 100 million euros available for facilities to run freight trains with a length of 740 metres. Infrastructure manager ProRail says that 90 million euros will be used to extend waiting and buffer tracks at the railway yards of Roosendaal, Rotterdam Noord Goederen, Hengelo and Oldenzaal.

Investing in facilities for longer freight trains improves the competitive position of rail freight transport in the Netherlands. A longer freight train ensures lower transport costs and makes the shift from road to rail transport easier.

Driven by the Green Deal, from 2030 there will be an EU obligation to be able to run longer trains on a number of important freight corridors and port yards. A freight train of 740 meters replaces 56 trucks. This means that freight transport by rail contributes to lower CO2 emissions and reduces road congestion.

Existing construction work

ProRail says that it saw options to lift on the back of other construction work, enabling the transportation of longer trains at the same time. “This saves time and tax money”, it commented.

Apart from the projects identified, an assessment will be carried out in the Rotterdam port area, including the Merseyweg trunk line and the Botlek railway yard. Previously, 7.2 million euros had already been made available t for research into extending two tracks in Lage Zwaluwe. This extension is important in order to be able to travel to and from Port Moerdijk with longer freight trains.