The Dutch Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to deploy the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). It will replace the 60-year-old automatic train control solutions. ERTMS will be installed in the Netherlands by 2050.

The decision was made by the Cabinet on 17 April. The ERTMS deployment is prescribed by the European Commission and also part of the coalition agreement. The system is an important element of the digitalisation of the rail sector. “A well-maintained track is crucial for a reliable network. With this new train protection system, we will prepare the Dutch network for the future in the coming decades. This is crucial for the growing number of travellers who want to use the rail,” noted Stientje van Veldhoven, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management.

Deployment plan

The ERTMS deployment is one of the biggest changes on the Dutch railway network. The national infrastructure manager ProRail is responsible for its implementation. The Ministry has prepared the deployment plan. According to it, the project includes installation of the system on seven mainlines with a total length of 345 kilometres. These routes provide 35 per cent of passenger traffic and 87 per cent of freight traffic in the Netherlands. Also, 600 locomotives and 750 passenger trains should be equipped with the system as well as 15,00 users will be trained. The investments are estimated at 2.4 billion Euros.

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