The Waalhaven South railway yard in the port of Rotterdam will undergo a major renovation over the next two years. Six tracks of up to 740 metres long and twelve additional parking positions for locomotives will be added. Infrastructure manager ProRail has awarded the contract for the redesign to VolkerRail. The work will begin in late 2026 and continue until late 2028.
With this expansion, ProRail aims to prepare the site for growth of rail freight transport. The infrastructure is being renewed and electrified further. A better separation between secured and unsecured areas should make shunting safer and more efficient.
The project is complex due to the limited space at the railway yard. Thanks to agreements with the city of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, additional temporary workspace is becoming available.
Freight transport must be able to continue as much as possible during the works. ProRail and VolkerRail promise to inform carriers, shippers, and local residents in a timely manner about the schedule and any potential disruptions.