Central government wants to make transporting goods by train more attractive. Rail transport is a sustainable and fast way to move goods across long distances. Good national and international rail connections are also important for the transportation of military personnel and goods. Some 80% of rail freight in the Netherlands comes from or is destined for other countries.
Measures for faster and better rail freight transport
Central government wants to make rail freight transport more attractive, more reliable and more competitive (in Dutch). So the government is investing more in the rail network in the coming years to:
- make the rail network for freight transport more reliable.
The government is investing in maintenance and better availability of sidings in port areas. It is also working to better protect the railway system against sabotage and digital threats. - Improve rail traffic flow on international routes.
Good traffic flow on international rail freight routes strengthens the Netherlands’ competitive position. This is why the Netherlands plans to allow extra long, 740-metre trains. The Netherlands is also working with other countries to ensure that safety systems are compatible. - Ensure safe transport and reduce noise emissions.
The government is improving the safety at level crossings. And it is working to reduce noise emissions and vibrations caused by trains (in Dutch) to safeguard the health and safety of people living near railways. The government is also looking at how hazardous materials can be transported safely in the future (Basisnet), taking account of spatial developments.
Major rail freight routes in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands freight trains run primarily on a few main routes that connect the various sea ports, Belgium and Germany. The government is carrying out various infrastructure projects to improve traffic flow on these routes. The main routes are:
- Betuwe Route
The Betuwe Route is the Netherlands’ main international rail freight line. It is a direct link between the Port of Rotterdam and the German border. The government wants businesses to choose this option over goods transport by road as much as possible. That is why it is upgrading the route by building a new connecting track at Meteren and investing in the widening of a section of line in Germany to 3 tracks (Derde Spoor Duitsland). This is an extension of the Betuwe Route and will improve links with the European hinterland. - Southern Netherlands freight route: Brabant Route and changes to the Meteren-Boxtel line
A branch to Eindhoven and Boxtel will be added to the Betuwe Route. This means fewer freight trains will be using the Brabant Route, freeing up capacity for more passenger trains. The construction of a railway trench in Vught will reduce noise emissions for local residents. - Eastern Netherlands freight route: Bentheim Route
The routes through the eastern part of the Netherlands remain key for international goods transport to Germany. Here, the government is monitoring railway capacity and how heavily the routes are used, taking into account increasing freight flows, international agreements, changing transport needs and other developments.
European rail freight corridors
Several European rail freight corridors that connect sea ports to the hinterland run through the Netherlands. These routes are important for fast and competitive rail freight transport and military mobility. Working together closely on these routes can prevent problems and deliver goods to their destinations faster.