Port of Rotterdam Authority, ProRail, and Swietelsky Rail Benelux have launched the construction of Maasvlakte Zuid railway yard. The ceremony was held on October 13, 2025, in the presence of the representatives from the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, and the European Parliament.
The first phase of the project involves construction of the initial bundle of six sidings suitable for 740-meter trains and various connections to existing rail infrastructure.
This bundle will be commissioned in mid-2027. The remaining three bundles will be implemented in phases depending on rail freight transport forecasts in the period after 2027.
Following preparatory work by Swietelsky, construction has now officially begun on the first bundle and the various connections as part of the new Maasvlakte Zuid Railway Yard (EMZ).
In October 2024, Port of Rotterdam Authority and Swietelsky Rail Benelux signed a contract for the construction of the six tracks suitable for 740-meter trains.
The construction of the EMZ is necessary to facilitate the growth of rail freight transport from the Maasvlakte to the European hinterland. Container throughput in the port of Rotterdam is expected to continue increasing in the coming years.
The Maasvlakte Zuid railway yard is suitable for freight trains with a length of 740 metres. That is considerably longer than the current standard length of approximately 600 meters. The longer trains offer a number of advantages.
The longer trains allow more containers to be transported in a single trip. This means fewer train movements, lower emissions, and reduced costs per tonne of freight.
The construction of the EMZ is part of the Port Authority’s efforts to encourage rail freight transport. In addition to rail freight transport having lower emissions of CO₂, NOₓ, and particulate matter than road transport, it is crucial to make optimal use of all available modes of transport in order to keep the port accessible.
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