Budget for extending Amsterdam Noord-Zuid metro line to Schiphol up to €6 billion short

Another €3 to €6 billion is needed to extend the Noord-Zuid metro line in Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport and Hoofddorp, according to an overview of financial problems in the areas of infrastructure and water management that the caretaker Cabinet shared with parliament.

The overview states that money was taken from the project budget three times to fill other gaps. This amounted to a total of over €1.8 billion. Now, €1.1 billion remains, while the total cost is estimated at between €4 and €7 billion.

A metro line from Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport should help reduce congestion at stations and create more space in the Schiphol Tunnel. This will also allow for more international trains to run. A study into the practical implementation of the public transport project is currently underway. A decision on the project is expected by the end of the year.

Caretaker Minister Robert Tieman (BBB) and State Secretary Thierry Aartsen (VVD) of Infrastructure and Water Management expect shortfalls of at least €500 million in dozens of areas. The largest is a €34.5 billion shortfall, the amount Rijkswaterstaat needs for maintenance through 2038.

The deficit for the Zuidasdok in Amsterdam has risen to over €1 billion. At least another €3.2 billion needs to be found for a European rail safety system. And a new pumping station near IJmuiden requires an additional €1.4 to €2.3 billion.