Getting the attention it deserves
From Saturday 4 June, the harbour railway was out of service for 96 hours for replacement of, among other things, seven points in and alongside the main track. The main track will return to service on the afternoon of 8 June. Subsequently, the out-of-service period at the Botlek yard will last another six days, where a further 14 points will be replaced. The work has been combined as much as possible into one large out-of-service period to limit the inconvenience for transporters and shippers.
On Monday, CEO John Voppen, CFO Mirjam van Velthuizen and Director of Account Management Jessica van den Bosch were updated at the project site. Guests also included Hans-Willem Vroon, director of Railgood, and Niels Maat, Operational Director at carrier Lineas. Project manager Ben van Hooijdonk of ProRail explained to them and his project team what the extensive works entail. After all the work in June, the infrastructure in the Rotterdam port area is looking a lot better again.
Jessica van den Bosch (ProRail), Niels Maat (Lineas) and Mirjam van Velthuizen-Lormans (ProRail)
Under time pressure
So much work at once in this area has an impact on all stakeholders, John Voppen says: “It is a puzzle we have to put together with transporters, shippers and other stakeholders. We are enormously grateful to all parties for their cooperation. Certainly also the contractors, who are doing this job under time pressure.”
Mirjam van Velthuizen emphasised the importance of the harbour railway for our economy and thus the importance of good infrastructure: “The economic importance for the Netherlands of adequate and safe railway infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam is incredibly high. This includes timely and appropriate maintenance. We may draw more attention to this.”
The economic importance of adequate and safe rail infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam is incredibly high for the Netherlands.
-Mirjam van Velthuizen CFO at ProRail
Crucial step forward
Projects within the Infrastructure in Order programme encompass more locations than the Rotterdam port area. Crossings on emergency roads were renewed, trenches were dug for fire extinguishing facilities and lighting was replaced.
Hans-Willem Vroon of RailGood appreciated the progress of work on the harbour railway, he revealed on LinkedIn: ‘Even if it will take a few more years to clear the worst maintenance and renewal backlogs, these important innovations are a crucial step forward in providing rail freight with a competitive infrastructure.’
Laying new points
Pain for transporters and shippers
Niels Maat of Lineas also saw the hard work: “You can clearly see that employees of the contractor and ProRail work with passion. At the same time, taking the line out of service for days like this hurts carriers and shippers, even though they understand the importance. We are far from there yet, because a lot of infrastructure on the harbour railway is too sensitive.” On Wednesday afternoon, 6 June, the first goods trains will travel along the harbour railway again.
In three work packages of one year each, ProRail is putting the infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam area in order; the points replacement in June is part of work package 2. Work was also in full swing in the around Easter.
