The freight train emplacement in the Dutch hub of Zwolle has been upgraded. The first phase of a long-term project was completed on 5 October, delivering a ready-for-use new parking station with increased capacity. The entire upgrade will be complete in June 2020.

This was reported by infrastructure manager ProRail on Monday 7 October, after the new site had become operative over the weekend. “Due to the increase in the number of trains, the available parking capacity needs to be scaled up. That is why we are expanding the parking areas in various places in the country. Including in Zwolle near Windesheim”, ProRail wrote on its website.

More capacity

Once the emplacement upgrade is completed, the site will soon have four times as much capacity. Instead of forty bins (a bin is part of a train), the emplacement will be able to handle 160 bins. ProRail has also installed an extra access track to the site.

“Now that the first part of the shunting area is ready, we continue with the second part. Just like with the first part, we will place a liquid-tight foil under the tracks. For example, the groundwater on the Engelse Werk site protected against contamination. This is important, because drinking water is extracted here for the Zwolle region.

Zwolle is improving

Apart from the emplacement site, ProRail is working on improving and expanding the railway junction of Zwolle. The tracks around the station have already been renewed. Now, the tracks between Zwolle and Herfte will be doubled and a free rail intersection will be constructed. This will allow trains from Meppel and Emmen to pass without interrupting each other.