ProRail says €18bn investment will support eight years of rail work

ProRail says an additional €18 billion for Dutch infrastructure will allow it to carry out more urgent railway maintenance and renewal over the next eight years. The Dutch government announced the extra investment on Friday, covering infrastructure including roads, bridges, waterways and railways. [1]

ProRail chief executive Mirjam van Velthuizen said the funding would support routine maintenance as well as renewal of the high-speed line, a new railway signalling system and measures to prevent suicide on the tracks. [1]

The announcement comes as ageing infrastructure and overdue maintenance have been linked to frequent disruptions and breakdowns in recent months, according to the report. The government has reassessed infrastructure projects and paused many of them to free up funding and capacity for maintenance and renewal, prioritising safety and the preservation of existing infrastructure. [1]

The funding is also intended to help make infrastructure more resilient for military transport, an area in which the Netherlands was recently found to be inadequately equipped, ProRail said. The government considered safety, accessibility, economic development and defence when reviewing projects. [1]

ProRail says funding will also be needed beyond the eight-year period. Many renewal projects take years to prepare and complete, and Van Velthuizen says the amount available after 2034 needs to be clarified in good time. [1]