New Terminal on the Betuweroute 30/11/18

The Dutch province of Gelderland and Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works will jointly invest in the construction of a new rail terminal in Valburg near Arnhem. The rail terminal will be located on the Betuweroute. The parties each pay half of the required 24 million euros.

The purpose of the new rail terminal on the Betuweroute is to create a transhipment location for rail freight operators driving between the ports and the European hinterland. This should give an impulse to the transport of goods by rail. The research in and construction of the rail terminal are part of an extensive package of investments from the central government and the regions in roads, railways and waterways. This should help to absorb the increasing traffic volumes in the country.

Zevenaar-Oberhausen

Earlier this month, the Netherlands completed the construction of the Dutch part of the third track between Zevenaar and Oberhausen. Three kilometers of track were laid, and the power supply and security have been adjusted.

Zevenaar is an important international rail hub on the Betuweroute. The construction of the third track between Zevenaar Oost and the German border started last year. For this purpose, five major high-speed switches were installed in May. Trains can travel at speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour over these 1 on 29 points.

Germany

On the German side of the track, a lot of work will be done in the coming years. Two years ago, the construction of a 70kilometre track between Emmerich and Oberhausen started. For this project, DB Netz needs to have more than a hundred viaducts rebuilt or modified and to lift dozens of them. Because not all procedures have been completed, it is not yet known when the third track on the German side will be ready. It is expected that this will be at the earliest in 2022.

In 2019, work will continue on the third track in Germany. As a result, the Betuweroute in the Netherlands is sometimes not or partially available for freight transport. Trains are diverted via the border crossing at Venlo and at Bad Bentheim. Transport of hazardous substances is as much as much as possible transported via the Betuweroute.