Rail infrastructure manager ProRail warns of capacity limitations

ProRail, which manages the Dutch rail infrastructure, forecast on Monday severe capacity limitations on the national rail network.

ProRail said traffic on the dense rail network increased every year, but capacity limits will be reached within 10 years. It expects passenger trains to cover 165 million kilometers in 2019, 30% more than 15 years ago. Goods trains will also travel further next year.

The network manager has already forecast a 45% increase in passenger numbers within 10 years. But it is almost impossible to add extra track due to a lack of space, ProRail said.

There are already 7,300 kilometres of track connecting 400 stations in the Netherlands. ‘It will be necessary to be more innovative for more trains to use the existing track,’ ProRail explained.

Another problem facing ProRail is a shortage of space for marshalling yards for engines and rolling stock not in use.  There are too few of them at certain bottlenecks the state-owned company said.