Port of Moerdijk plans to launch a pilot starting in 2028 with a neutral rail feeder that centrally organises local rail transport in the port area. This should enable the number of rail movements to increase from approximately 50 to 150 per week without the need to build additional rail infrastructure. The port has been working on the concept since 2022.
Currently, eight different rail carriers are active in Moerdijk. They arrange capacity with ProRail individually, while the port area itself is not centrally served. According to Port of Moerdijk, as a result, capacity is lost when reserved time slots are not used or only partially used. With a neutral rail feeder, the local operation would be placed under the control of a single independent party. This carrier must plan and execute rail movements within the port and simultaneously coordinate the connection with the national rail network at Lage Zwaluwe.
Port Director Paul Dirix expects that a central organization will yield not only more capacity, but also lower costs and a more reliable operation. According to him, at least 20 percent can be saved on operational costs through better deployment of personnel and equipment.
Tender scheduled for 2027
Port of Moerdijk intends to issue a tender next year for the operation of the rail feeder. The pilot should then start in the course of 2028. According to the port, however, adjustments to legislation and regulations are still required for this. Port of Moerdijk is therefore discussing the plans with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and ProRail. Among other things, the requirements for train drivers and locomotives within the port area are being reviewed.
The pilot is expected to start with diesel locomotives. The port railway from Lage Zwaluwe is not electrified, while suitable hybrid or electric locomotives are still in limited supply and relatively expensive, according to Dirix. In the long term, however, the port aims to further increase the sustainability of the last-mile operation. For the time being, the primary goal is to make more intensive use of the existing rail infrastructure and thereby transport more goods by rail to and from Moerdijk.
This article was originally published on our sister publication SpoorPro.nl