Ministry of Defense to buy trains as mobile hospitals for potential war
The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defense reported that it plans to purchase dozens of trains to convert into mobile hospitals capable of transporting wounded soldiers during a potential large-scale conflict. The plan calls for buying between 25 and 50 train sets from NS. The estimated cost to acquire and convert the trains ranges from 50 million to 250 million euros.
The trains, called “casualty trains,” would function as rolling hospitals to move injured Dutch troops safely from the front lines to hospitals able to provide specialized care, possibly reaching the eastern edge of NATO territory. Defense officials estimate that, in a severe conflict, more than 1,000 soldiers could require evacuation each day. Some carriages would be dismantled for spare parts to maintain operational capacity. The trains would be modified to run on both electricity and diesel.
Currently, injured personnel are evacuated using ambulances, helicopters, and long-distance transport planes. Officials said that in a large-scale war, air superiority may not be guaranteed, and casualties could overwhelm existing capacity. “Transporting via rail is relatively safe and allows for moving large numbers of injured personnel,” a Defense source told De Telegraaf.
Commandant of the Armed Forces General Onno Eichelsheim emphasized the need for such capabilities last year, citing the Russian attacks on Ukraine. “Russia tests our alertness, studies our readiness, and assesses our capabilities. The threat is increasing,” he said.
Eichelsheim noted that in the event of a Russian attack on a NATO member, Dutch forces could be deployed to the eastern flank, potentially resulting in a significant number of casualties being returned to the Netherlands.
“If the situation deteriorates severely on the eastern border, wounded, sick, and temporarily stabilized patients must be transported quickly to safe locations to receive additional specialist care,” sources said.
