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The majority of the work planned will involve structural repairs and repairs to several viaducts along the line. For this reason, engineers currently estimate they will need to fully assess the extent of damage and determine whether 82 days for closure of railway services are necessary.
In addition, the time to assess, the approximate amount of time needed for each type of repair, and all these are not yet known. Therefore, the Minister stated that the repair period may take more or less than planned.
Therefore, this project will fully suspend international train services. Therefore, this will create significant difficulties for rail service operators and for anyone travelling outside of the Netherlands. Financial Difficulty & Increased Operating Costs.
As of October 2020, Repair Work on the Amsterdam – Brussels Rail Line has had such an increase in anticipated expenses that they are now estimated to be approximately 580 million euros, depending on the findings from comprehensive inspections, in addition to the respective design plans being used during the construction phase.
Currently, it is unclear who will ultimately bear the financial responsibility for the repairs, as the Dutch government has declared that it is their intention that the Associated Construction Companies would be responsible for any financial impact.
Industry insiders have asserted that they are doubtful the Associated Companies will actually take financial responsibility, and should they fail, the taxpayers may suffer the financial consequences of this project.
This uncertainty related to funding has added another layer of complication to what was already a highly complicated situation. Since the repairs are mandated for safety reasons, it is critical to establish financial clarity on this issue before the anticipated closure date of 2028.
Impact on Railroads and Associated Infrastructure
The closure of the Rail-Line is projected to place a heavy burden on many of the Train Operators who rely on the High-Speed Rail Line for the majority of their revenue-generating business activities. Those on the main route have expressed their extreme frustration regarding the length of time that will be spent due to this interruption, as well as its negative impact on passenger travel.
Although Train Operators are in the process of researching Alternate Travel Options which will reduce the impact this closure has on their Scheduling and Operation; at this time, it is widely viewed that any Alterante Travel Options available to Passengers would be extremely Inconvenient.
Given the likelihood of Detours, it is anticipated that during this Closure, passenger travel times will increase by a minimum of 30 minutes for those travelling the High-Speed Rail-Line. The most likely Route to replace this route is anticipated to be through Haarlem; however, Breukelen is also being evaluated for possible use.
It is unknown if the current Detour Routes will possess the capacities required to accommodate the increase in International Train Traffic that would likely occur as a result of the Closure, as the capacities of the Detour Routes have not yet been determined.
In addition to the Rail Service Issues due to the Closure, the surrounding Infrastructure will also be affected due to the maintenance required. There are Multiple Major Highways impacted by a significant number of the existing Viaducts, including the A44.
Due to the construction efforts being performed, these Highways may be temporarily closed and Cease the ability for Travel; therefore, they may create an additional burden related to Traffic Disruptions. Additionally, further complicating the planning for these Closure Projects is the need to coordinate with Other Track Projects taking place near Haarlem and Schiphol. Additionally, a determination must still be made on how overlapping Construction Projects will be managed.
As the Planning Process continues for the Projects, updates regarding the Specifics of the Repairs will be provided to Passengers once the specifics are established. The necessity of these Repairs to ensure Long-Term Safety and Reliability indicates the Challenges facing Major Transportation Infrastructure scheduled for the next Several Years.
