Rail transport

Although road transport is still by far the most popular mode of transport in Europe, in the past decade, the demand for rail freight has grown tremendously. The Dutch railway network is modern and well-connected and provides excellent links to major economic regions in the European hinterland.

As companies are looking for alternative modes of transport to avoid congestion and the rising costs of road transport, and governments stimulate the use of rail transport, more and more investments are being made to expand and improve the rail infrastructure, making it even more attractive on many transport routes. One of the main advantages of transport via rail is that there is no congestion, making it a very reliable mode of transport. Rail freight is also very safe and environmentally-friendly. Due to the high axel loads, rail is also especially suited for the transportation of heavy volumes such as wet and dry bulk, and rail transport is less susceptible to fuel cost fluctuations.

In 2008, 15% of all freight transport in Europe was carried by rail and there is still room for growth. In the Netherlands the volume of tons transported by rail (national and international) doubled during the past ten years to a volume of 45.5 million tons. In particular in Eastern Europe, the growth of rail freight from the Netherlands is high, because many customers are based in these countries. There are also few direct water-based connections.

The Netherlands is one of the leading countries within the EU as far as the introduction of competition in rail transportation is concerned. Users of rail transport in the Netherlands have a choice of fourteen competing train operating companies for rail freight services, offering door-to-door services and delivering traction for container shuttle services.  From the Port of Rotterdam, numerous freight trains leave on a daily basis to the major industrial centers in Europe, which can be reached within 24 hours. Furthermore, in June 2007, a brand-new railroad dedicated to rail freight transport, the Betuwe Line, was opened, offering uninterrupted and even faster connections than ever before. The Betuwe Line provides direct access to the trans-European rail freight network and runs from the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam straight to the German border. Forecasts show that Dutch volumes of rail transportation will rise to 78-110 million tons in the period of 2020-2040.

More information can be found on www.railcargo.nl