Six rail operators—Rail Force One, HSL Netherlands, DB Cargo Nederland, RTB Cargo, LTE, and Rail Cargo Group—have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at improving operations on the Rotterdam Port Railway Line, under the coordination of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
The agreement is part of the “Track Together” initiative and introduces a system whereby operators can take over each other’s trains in the event of capacity issues, at fixed rates. The main goal is to reduce train cancellations and delays, as well as to increase the reliability of the entire rail network in the port area.
Under a “shunting agreement,” the operators establish clear rules regarding the transfer of trains, both administratively and operationally, including the responsibilities of each party. Thus, in the event of schedule deviations, there is an immediately applicable contingency plan.
A rail shunting agreement is essential to provide clarity and safety for all parties involved in operations along the entire Rotterdam Port Railway Line—from Kijfhoek to Maasvlakte and back, including all intermediate stations and terminals.
Joint Solution for Rail Capacity Management
The agreement sets out how trains are transferred, both administratively and physically, as well as the responsibilities of each party—namely, the client and the contractor. Thus, the rail shunting agreement forms the basis for safe, efficient, and effective cooperation throughout the entire port area.
The port terminals benefit directly from this cooperation, as tracks can be cleared more quickly, allowing transport schedules to be maintained.
The “Track Together” initiative will initially operate as a pilot project through October, and all operations will be managed through the “PortFlow” app, developed to coordinate the booking and assignment of train runs among operators.
According to the parties involved, this is the first time that multiple rail operators have implemented such a structured form of operational cooperation in the Port of Rotterdam, with the goal of increasing the efficiency, safety, and reliability of rail freight transport.
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