German part Betuweroute temporarily unavailable
From Saturday 13 July to Sunday 25 August only one track is available on the German part of the Betuweroute. During this period, the German infrastructure manager DB Netze works with contractors on the construction...Read more
EU approves €70 million aid to lower Dutch track access charges
The European Commission has approved a support scheme amounting to 70 million Euros in order to significantly reduce the track access charges for rail freight in the Netherlands. The scheme, which will run from 2019...Read more
Tests with freight trains on Dutch metro line
A new railway line in the Netherlands is currently being tested for the passage of freight trains. The Hoekse Lijn between Schiedam Centrum and Hoek van Holland is the only railway line in the Netherlands...Read more
Incentive scheme in the Netherlands for use of less frequented sidings
In the Netherlands an incentive scheme is under discussion to discourage the use of busy sidings by making the less frequented sidings more attractive. Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail is negotiating such a measure with rail...Read more
Dutch-German railway at Venlo made available for longer trains
The first freight trains with a length of 740 metres can pass the Dutch-German border crossing at Venlo by 2020. That is the expectation of Dimitri Kruik, Director of Capacity Management at ProRail, the Dutch...Read more
Dutch topman Pier Eringa becomes new CEO Transdev Netherlands
Pier Eringa, CEO of Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail will start as the CEO of Transdev the Netherlands per 1 September. Transdev is a mobility solutions provider of bus, train, taxi and ambulance transport. Eringa revealed...Read moreDutch Kijfhoek meets safety standards after row of accidents
Rail infrastructure at Dutch classification yard Kijfhoek meets 94.6 per cent of the standards. This conclusion was drawn by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), based on investigations carried out this year. ILT’s supervision...Read more
‘Train delays may not be reduced, but will be better reported’
The rail sector is well represented at the Transport & Logistic exhibition that is taking place in Munich this week. Given the quantity and size of the stands, rail transport is clearly a growing market....Read more
Pier Eringa: capacity for freight should be more flexible
There is too much capacity wasted on the congested Dutch railway network. This concluded Pier Eringa, CEO of infrastructure manager ProRail at RailTech Europe 2019. “These train paths are requested, and then cancelled on short...Read moreRestrictions on the Dutch Betuweroute this week
Due to construction work on the third track in Germany between Emmerich and Oberhausen, there are restrictions on the Dutch Betuweroute this week. Freight trains have to take a detour via the border crossings in...Read more
Successful trial with self-driving locomotive on Dutch Betuweroute
On Wednesday, rail freight operator Rotterdam Rail Feeding, infrastructure manager ProRail and Alstom conducted a successful test drive with a self-driving locomotive on the Betuweroute, the freight dedicated railway line in the Netherlands. According to...Read more
Rail freight operators not happy with Dutch new track access charges
Rail freight operators are not happy with the recently approved new calculation method of track access charges in the Netherlands. This calculation method includes new mark-ups, that will especially affect the heavy train operators. The Dutch...Read more
Dutch railway network full, little space for more rail
The Dutch rail network, which spans over 7,300 kilometres, is as good as full, said infrastructure manager ProRail. However, there is little point to building new railway lines, as there is almost no room for...Read moreMeasures to improve safety at Dutch classification yard Kijfhoek
Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail has commissioned an independent investigation into the safety culture at Kijfhoek, the main classification yard of the Netherlands. It has also taken serious safety measures. This was in response to a...Read moreConcerns over safety Dutch classification yard Kijfhoek
The main classification yard of the Netherlands, Kijfhoek, is under scrutiny after four accidents took place in less than two months. Host municipality Zwijndrecht is concerned over the safety of its inhabitants and urges infrastructure...Read more
‘Europe should not be the hurdle on the New Silk Road’
Europe is the first and the last mile on the New Silk Road. This should be an incentive for European governments to pursue assertive policy when it comes to rail freight, believes Pier Eringa, CEO...Read more