{"id":308899,"date":"2025-10-29T20:45:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T10:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=66989"},"modified":"2025-10-29T20:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T10:45:09","slug":"data-of-the-week-why-did-the-netherlands-controversially-invest-in-swl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=308899","title":{"rendered":"Data of the week: Why did the Netherlands controversially invest in SWL?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Netherlands is investing 30 million euros in single wagonload (SWL) infrastructure. It is a controversial plan, with some supporting it and others strongly opposing the investments. Since the loss-making SWL operations seem to be on the decline in Europe, it is no surprise that some are wondering whether now is the time to spend public money on it. After all, how important is SWL really to the Netherlands?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/span>Single wagonload <\/strong>operations allow companies that do not export enough goods to form a block train to transport their goods by rail. Single wagons, or a small number of wagons, from various companies are combined into trains at shunting yards, from where they depart to the train\u2019s destination.<\/p>\n

This type of rail freight operation requires a lot of movements, which leads to high costs<\/strong> and makes it very challenging to run a profit<\/strong> on it.<\/p>\n

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An SWL train in Germany. Image: Deutsche Bahn AG \u00a9 Claus Weber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Rail freight transported 39,3 million tonnes of goods in the Netherlands in 2023, which is around 2% of the total volume of transported goods in the country via all modes of transportation: rail, road, waterways, air and pipelines, according to infrastructure manager ProRail. (Rail freight has a modal share of around 5% to 6% in tonne-kilometres, according to Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis.) Some 15% of the rail volume is moved through SWL operations: approximately 6 million tonnes. That would make for around 0,3% of the total volume of goods transported in the Netherlands in 2023.<\/p>\n

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In other words, single wagonload only accounts for a tiny fraction of total freight transportation in the country. Despite that, the infrastructure ministry recently announced a 30 million euro investment<\/a> in shunting operations at the Kijfhoek rail yard, close to Rotterdam.<\/p>\n

The investment should help suppress costs, lead to reliable and more sustainable freight flows and support ports and industries. In a policy plan, the Netherlands explains that it wants to change the operating model with a neutral service offering at the Kijfhoek rail yard. That means that infrastructure manager ProRail will take over shunting locomotives from DB Cargo, which is currently the only operator that has them.<\/p>\n

The neutral service offering will then periodically be put to the market. That should also improve the accessibility of shunting at Kijfhoek for other companies that offer SWL services, say the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

Are the Dutch not reading the room?<\/h2>\n

The move to support SWL operations at Kijfhoek could be seen as somewhat remarkable. In Germany and Switzerland, recent developments have suggested a move away from SWL because it is not financially viable. As part of its restructuring process, DB Cargo floated the idea of quitting single wagonload altogether. The Swiss SBB Cargo is planning to close three SWL terminals.<\/p>\n

Dutch rail freight association RailGood has been opposed to the investment, saying that it primarily allows large companies with foreign shareholders to profit from lower fees and that it is a \u201cwaste of taxpayer money\u201d. Why, then, would the Dutch government commit to a multimillion investment in SWL?<\/p>\n

The answer is found in a report<\/a> by infrastructure manager ProRail. It points out that single wagonload operations are crucial for a number of economic sectors, like the steel, chemical and paper industries. It is no wonder that shippers\u2019 association evofenedex has been supportive of the 30 million investment.<\/p>\n