Bring ProRail back under direct government control, say MPs

A majority in parliament thinks the government should take back control of the most important tasks currently carried out by rail track operator ProRail, reports the Telegraaf on Thursday.


MPs are fed up with the operator following the row over large salary rises for its management, the chaos on the railways during last winter and last month’s train crash in Amsterdam.
According to the paper, the right-wing liberal VVD has even suggested putting the entire company back under direct government control.
Improvements
VVD MP Charlie Aptroot told Radio 2 on Thursday morning that there are problems every winter and safety on the railways is not up to scratch. ‘Every year they promise improvements, but nothing happens. We’ve had enough. Close the company and make it part of the transport authority Rijkswaterstaat,’ he said.
It is not the first time parliament has argued for more government control over ProRail. Eighteen months ago a majority said the same thing following a fire in a traffic control centre in Utrecht which caused serious problems for train passengers.
The Dutch railways are 100% owned by the state but split into two arms-length companies: NS which looks after passengers services and ProRail which operates the tracks.
See also
Foreign taxpayers are bailing out Dutch transport firms

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