ProRail invests billions in railway renewal

The number of train passengers in the Netherlands is expected to grow by 45 percent in the coming decade, according to ProRail. The rail manager is therefore investing at least 20 billion euros into rail renewal, so that it can cope with the passenger increase, ProRail CEO Pier Eringa said to the Telegraaf.

"People are sick of traffic jams on the road and in the city they are massively rushed into the train. That's great, of course, but something has to be done to absorb that explosive growth."

Until 2030 ProRail will invest 20 billion euros into upgrading the railway. "With this we can facilitate a large part of the expected growth, such as more space for more trains that will travel faster and closer together, larger stations and additional space for security systems", Eringa said. This is a start, but not enough, Eringa warned.

The strongest passenger growth is expected in Amsterdam. Currently around 180 thousand people travel through Amsterdam Central Station every day. In 2030 that will be 280 thousand, according to ProRail. All stations in Amsterdam will therefore be revamped between 2021 and 2028.