The Rotterdam port railway blockades by activist groups are highly disruptive to the rail freight industry. Financial damages could be higher than initially thought, and consequences reach far beyond train operations. Despite earlier hesitations, Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail has filed police reports.
Between 9 and 18 May, activists blocked the Rotterdam port railway. The vital Betuwe Line railway was also targeted on the 18th. The railway blockers claimed to have caused millions in financial losses for rail companies, which they hope will force the industry to, as they see it, stop transporting polluting products and those tied to human rights violations.
The activists based their claim of three million euros in damages on a 150,000 euros per hour figure. That could be an underestimation: ProRail tells RailFreight.com that damages range between 100,000 and 250,000 euros per hour of blockade. This does not yet include indirect consequential damages: “Disruptions to freight rail services affect not only rail operators, but also production processes, industry, ports, terminals, distribution centres and international logistics chains”, says ProRail.
ProRail explains that the given number is a careful estimate reached through consultations with the rail freight industry and based on experience of earlier disruptions on the railways.
Protests also carry environmental hazard risks
At the same time, the Dutch infrastructure manager emphasises the danger associated with rail blockades. “Hazardous substances are transported by rail every day. If rail traffic comes to an unexpected standstill, trains or wagons carrying hazardous substances may be forced to stop at locations elsewhere in the Netherlands that are less suitable for this purpose, either from an operational or a safety perspective.”
Consequently, ProRail has filed police reports relating to some of the protests during the past days. “We are in close contact with freight carriers, local authorities and the Public Prosecution Service”, the infrastructure manager elaborates. “In addition, last week we wrote to the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management and the State Secretary for Justice and Security to draw their attention to the matter.”
Meanwhile, the city of Rotterdam repeats what was already known: the municipality can decide to prohibit a protest on the basis of disturbances, safety or health concerns.
The city has also stated that prohibiting a protest ahead of time is difficult in practice due to the large size of the port. The activists do not seem to be scared of that scenario either: they have already announced a renewed blockade on 27 June after an experience-sharing session on the 26th.