Rail operators on the Rotterdam port railway are coming together to collaborate in a unique pilot project. The participants, accounting for 70% of the market share, have agreed on a system to take over each other’s operations in case of capacity issues. This provides for a predefined back-up procedure in case of divergences from the standard planning.
Rail Force One, HSL Netherlands, DB Cargo Netherlands, RTB Cargo, LTE and Rail Cargo Group are the six involved rail operators. Through a specially developed application (PortFlow), they can take over each other’s operations when needed.
The so-called shunting agreement is “essential to provide clarity and certainty to all parties involved during the execution of works along the entire port railway”, the Port of Rotterdam says. It defines the procedures for transferring trains administratively and physically, and which responsibilities apply to both contractors and clients.
Pilot
The project ‘Track Together’ will initially run for seven months in a pilot format. If proven successful, it will continue on a structural basis. Its goal is to prevent train cancellations and long delays. Terminals will benefit, according to the port, because their tracks can also be freed up for other planned trains.
“Track Together strengthens cooperation between rail operators in the Port of Rotterdam. By sharing information more effectively, the platform contributes to more efficient operations and a more reliable rail network for all parties involved”, commented Jordy Hermes, Product Design Specialist at LTE.