RAIL freight traffic in the Netherlands fell by 10% to 13.6 billion tonne-km in 2023, according to a report by infrastructure manager ProRail.
This was down from the record figure of 14.9 billion tonne-km recorded in 2022 when the war in Ukraine and restrictions on the supply of natural gas from Russia increased demand for coal. Total freight traffic in the Netherlands amounted to 42.7 million tonnes in 2023.
Coal traffic fell from 9.7 million tonnes in 2022 to 7.9 million tonnes in 2023. Imported coal is moved from the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Sloehaven, near Vlissingen, and represents 18% of total freight tonnage in the Netherlands.
Intermodal traffic also fell in 2023, particularly in the second half of the year, and was down 8% year-on-year at total of 17.8 million tonnes. Production problems in Germany and the economic climate in China are citied as contributing factors.
Regular intermodal shuttle services between Tilburg and Poland were cancelled, as well as the domestic Lutterade – Moerdijk route.
Transit intermodal traffic between Belgium and Germany appeared to be stable, although work to provide a third track between Zevenaar and Oberhausen in Germany caused some disruption. Intermodal services represented around 50% of freight trains crossing the border between the Netherlands and Germany.
Domestic intermodal services that were withdrawn in 2023 included those from Rotterdam to Coevorden and to Blerick (Gekkengraaf), as well as the service from Moerdijk to the Chemelot chemical production centre near Lutterade.
Intermodal accounted for 48% of total freight moved in 2023. Amongst conventional freight, wagonload traffic also declined, due to a significant decrease in capacity at Kijfhoek marshalling yard where a new retarder system is being installed.
Kijfhoek is the only hump yard for sorting wagons in the Netherlands. Wagonload services are now only provided by Lineas of Belgium and DB Cargo, and much wagonload traffic is sent directly to Germany for sorting there.
Wet bulk traffic remained unchanged in 2023 at 7 million tonnes. ProRail reports that wet bulk traffic is doing well in Amsterdam, where a new terminal has opened in the port.
The Port of Rotterdam remains the major generator of rail freight traffic in the Netherlands. The total amount of freight moved by rail to and from Europe’s largest port was 28.1 million tonnes in 2023, down from 30.8 million tonnes in 2022.
The number of train movements to and from the port in 2023 was 35,500, down 8% on the year before.
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