The railway complex in IJsselmonde, located in the south of Rotterdam, will be relocated to the Maasvlakte Zuid area, bringing it closer to the port and further from the city. The initiative will “free up space for housing, a new station and the expansion of the Varkenoordsepark,” the Port of Rotterdam said.
The IJsselmonde facility is primarily used for assembling, holding, and routing freight trains, rather than large-scale loading operations. Situated along the Betuweroute, it provides operators with a direct rail link between Rotterdam’s deep-sea terminals and inland Europe.
The Dutch government will contribute €158m to the relocation, while the municipality and the Port of Rotterdam will jointly provide a further €169m. In addition to moving the yard, the funds will be used for the electrification of the “distri triangle” and the outer contour, the modification of the C2 bend, and the construction of two drive-through tracks.
Further expansion potential
The new yard at Maasvlakte has been under construction since October last year and is expected to become operational in 2027. It will feature six bundle tracks, allowing for an increase in maximum train length from 600 to 740m, in line with European standards.
In addition, another yard is planned for construction between 2030 and 2035, with potential for further expansion between 2040 and 2050, depending on demand.
