The Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail signed ERTMS trackside contracts for the rail network in Friesland, in the north part of the Netherlands. The contracts have been officially signed on 1 September with BAM and Strukton—BAM teaming up with Nexus Rail and Strukton with Arcadis.
Strukton and Arcadis will take charge of the Leeuwarden–Harlingen Haven line, while BAM, supported by Nexus Rail, will handle the Leeuwarden–Stavoren section. This division of work between two contractors and two engineering firms is intentional—allowing each team to gain hands-on experience with ERTMS and share their insights later on.
Work on infrastructure between Leeuwarden–Harlingen Haven and Leeuwarden–Stavoren is scheduled to begin in 2026.
BAM and Strukton will be responsible for laying the groundwork needed for ERTMS – from new cabling and axle counters to balises embedded in the track. Preparatory work is ongoing in 2025, with installation alongside the existing ATB system beginning next year. Once ERTMS is fully operational, the legacy system will be dismantled.
The ERTMS trackside contracts represent a new step in the “shift from analogue to digital. This system is set to become the European standard, making cross-border operations much easier,” said project manager Aschwin van der Lugt from ProRail.
The two railway sections are part of the broader “ERTMS Northern Lines” programme, which also includes six track sections and the stations in Groningen and Leeuwarden across the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.
The Leeuwarden–Harlingen Haven route will serve as the pilot testing ground for the latest version of ERTMS, using upgraded infrastructure, adapted trains, new systems, and specially trained staff. Upon successful implementation, the system will be extended to the Leeuwarden–Stavoren stretch, followed by the remaining parts of the Northern Lines.
During 2025, ProRail is focused on initiating preparations for the works. From 2026, ERTMS will be installed alongside the existing train protection system (ATB) and once ERTMS is fully operational, contractors will remove the old system.
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