Cabinet reserves €100 mil. to repair high-speed railway line

The Dutch cabinet has set aside 100 million euros for initial repair work on the high-speed rail line between Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam. This was confirmed by State Secretary for Public Transport Chris Jansen in a statement to the ANP news agency. Jansen described the funding as “learning costs” specifically earmarked for the viaduct near Rijpwetering, while the total expenses for repairs remain under investigation.

On Tuesday, stakeholders informed members of the Tweede Kamer that the estimated cost to repair nine of the ten viaducts along the line ranges between 250 million and 400 million euros. This estimate excludes the viaduct at Rijpwetering, where the issues are the most urgent.

“These figures are rough estimates,” Jansen said Thursday during a parliamentary debate. He expects a clearer picture of the exact costs to emerge next year. Afterward, he will determine how to finance the necessary repairs. In principle, any budget overruns will be prioritized over funding for new projects.

The damage to the viaducts stems from design flaws, which have caused deterioration in both concrete and metal fastenings connecting different segments of the structures. As a result, train speeds on sections of the track have been limited to 120 kilometers per hour.

In addition to these issues, the viaduct near Rijpwetering is experiencing shifting abutments, the supports on which the bridge rests. Han Berends of ProRail described this as a “unique situation” during the briefing for Tweede Kamer members. Because of this, the Rijpwetering viaduct will be the first to undergo repairs, serving as a "learning case" for addressing problems at other viaducts.

Several members of the Tweede Kamer raised concerns during the debate about the rail line’s problems. Representatives from the PVV, VVD, and NSC parties called for solutions to reduce repair time and keep costs under control. “A solution is being sought, which unfortunately requires customized approaches for each viaduct,” Jansen responded.