Rotterdam boosts rail capacity
Port of Rotterdam authority, ProRail, and Swietelsky rail Benelux have officially launched construction of the new Maasvlakte Zuid (EMZ) railway yard. The project, celebrated in the presence of Dutch and European officials, aims to expand Rotterdam’s rail freight capacity. The first phase includes six sidings for 740-metre trains and new connections to existing tracks, to be completed by mid-2027 according to the port of Rotterdam.
Further phases will follow based on freight growth forecasts. The yard will support the expected rise in container traffic from Europe’s largest seaport to the hinterland. "The longer trains allow more containers to be transported in a single trip. This means fewer train movements, lower emissions, and reduced costs per tonne of freight," stated the port of Rotterdam. (js)