Urgent repairs to the high-speed rail line (HSL) between Amsterdam and Rotterdam and the rollout of a new European railway safety system are “absolutely vital,” according to State Secretary Annet Bertram (Infrastructure, CDA). Her comments come ahead of expected infrastructure spending cuts later this year.
The Cabinet is anticipated to slash funding for the construction and maintenance of roads, waterways, and railways in an effort to plug multi-billion-euro deficits. This Friday, State Secretary Bertram and the Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vincent Karremans (VVD), unveiled a new policy framework designed to help decide which projects will go ahead and which will be shelved.
While both ministers admit they do not yet know the exact outcomes of this ‘balancing framework’, Bertram’s remarks strongly suggest that the HSL restoration and the implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) are safe from the chopping block. “ProRail also views these as two major, critical dossiers,” she noted, while also stressing the importance of maintaining international rail links.
Previous ministers have fought for more money from the national treasury to fund infrastructure, but that demand was noticeably absent from Friday’s letter to Parliament. “Every minister tries to secure more money for their budget each year,” Karremans told the ANP news agency. “But you have to be realistic about it.” He pointed out that other pressing matters, such as ongoing negotiations with trade unions, also require funding.
However, Karremans believes alternative funding sources are available. He is currently looking into European subsidies and private sector financing. The coalition government intends to allocate a one-off sum of 7 billion euros, alongside 500 million euros annually, to support infrastructure projects.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
