Major step forward in Maasvlakte rail development: utilities conduit successfully installed
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During a carefully planned 130-hour shutdown, a concrete conduit was successfully inserted under the railway tracks at the Maasvlakte. This operation marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Maasvlakte Zuid Railway Yard. Installation of the conduit was achieved through close collaboration between the clients – ProRail and Port of Rotterdam Authority – and the contractors: Swietelsky, Van der Linden Beton, Boskalis, De Koning and CT De Boer.
Precision works with a tight deadline
The conduit, comprising two tunnel pipes, was pre-assembled from precast concrete sections in an excavated trench alongside the track. During the shutdown, the track was excavated and the entire tunnel structure was pushed into place using a hydraulic system. This approach made it possible to carry out the work quickly and in a controlled manner, with minimal disruption to Locomotive Workshop Rotterdam (LWR) and train services.
Thinking ahead prevents disruption
The conduit is located near the LWR sidings. By installing these now, there will be no need to dig up the track in future to lay cables and pipes. Thanks to this design, new cables and pipes – for example, for energy transition projects – can be laid beneath the railway line in future with minimal disruption. This minimises impact above ground.
Additional work
In parallel with the installation of the duct, Strukton and KPN are working on the relocation of a water main (Evides) and a pressure pipeline (Port of Rotterdam Authority). Casing pipes have been installed for this purpose. Once the conduit has been inserted, the new pipes for the relocation can be laid.
Minimal impact
By carefully coordinating the works with the local community and carrying them out over a single short period, the disruption to businesses and users in the area was kept to a minimum. We also worked closely with the end user, LWR. The company has been involved in the planning process for three years now.
Development of the Maasvlakte Zuid Railway Yard
In collaboration with ProRail, Port of Rotterdam Authority is currently implementing the first phase of the Maasvlakte Zuid Railway Yard (EMZ). This phase includes the construction of the first bundle of six tracks and various connections to the existing railway infrastructure.
The remaining tracks at the station will be constructed in phases. The first bundle is expected to come into service in mid-2027. The new railway yard is needed to facilitate the increasing rail freight traffic from Maasvlakte to the European hinterland.
Container throughput at the port of Rotterdam is set to grow steadily over the coming years. To continue transporting the increasing flow of containers efficiently to the hinterland, Port of Rotterdam Authority, ProRail and the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management are investing in sustainable and efficient rail development.
Images: Bob van Bruggen (IJsbreker.TV)