26 april 2024
The year 2023 was, among other things, marked by the train accident near Voorschoten (the investigation is in its final stages), badgers and beavers near the railway, and disappointing performances, especially in the last quarter.
Rail freight transport in the Netherlands decreased by approximately 10 percent last year. The main cause of this decline is the reduced demand for coal and economic developments in Germany and China.
Also in 2024, a considerable amount of work is being carried out on and around the railway. More than 400 projects are being implemented. This is necessary, as John Voppen mentioned earlier: “Much of our railway dates back to shortly after World War II and has a lifespan of about forty years. Now, eighty years have passed, and in many places, a second round of major maintenance is needed. At the same time, we want to expand the rail network for more and better train traffic. We are doing this by improving now and heavily investing in digitization.
Read the full annual report here.