The Maaslijn line, which runs from Nijmegen to Venlo, was due to be electrified in 2024, enabling it to operate additional fast services and making it more environmentally friendly.
However, ProRail has now withdrawn the tender procedure citing that “the consequences of the war in Ukraine, in combination with existing challenges in the field of raw materials prices and pressure on integrated supply chain management due to the corona pandemic” have forced it to reconsider the market approach for the Maaslijn upgrade project.
The withdrawal will inevitably delay the target completion date of 2024.
“We find it annoying that the users of the Maaslijn have to wait longer for the connection to be improved, especially because this project has already had to endure the necessary bumps and delays for various reasons,” ProRail said in a statement. “At the same time, we believe it is important to remain transparent and realistic about expectations.”
ProRail, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the provinces of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Gelderland have emphasized that the usefulness and necessity of upgrading the Maaslijn line is not under discussion. Electrification of the Maaslijn will significantly improve the sustainability of rail transport. At the same time, this will improve the quality of the rail network in the south-east of the Netherlands.
“The project remains a top priority for all parties, and we will continue to work hard to make the Maaslijn possible,” ProRail continued. “We do this by, for example, continuing to carry out conditioning activities, such as land acquisition.”