Six rail operators active on the Port Railway Line in Rotterdam have agreed to a new framework aimed at improving operational coordination and reducing disruption across the network.
Rail Force One, HSL Netherlands, DB Cargo Nederland, RTB Cargo, LTE and Rail Cargo Group have signed a shunting agreement, led by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Together, the operators account for around 70 per cent of rail activity on the line.
Under the agreement, operators can take over each other’s train movements at fixed rates in the event of capacity constraints. The approach is designed to limit cancellations and reduce delays, while ensuring that contingency arrangements are immediately available when operations deviate from planned timetables.
For terminals, the model is intended to support more predictable rail flows. By allowing trains to be taken over quickly during disruptions, tracks can be cleared in time for scheduled services to proceed.
According to the Port of Rotterdam Authority, this marks the first time that multiple rail operators in the port have formally agreed to cooperate in this way.
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The initiative, named Track Together, began on 1 April 2026 as a seven-month pilot. If the results are positive, the partners expect to extend the arrangement on a permanent basis.
The agreement applies across the full length of the Port Railway Line, from Kijfhoek to Maasvlakte, including intermediate stations and terminals. It sets out procedures for both administrative and physical handovers of train movements, as well as defining responsibilities between the original operator and the party taking over the service.
“Track Together strengthens cooperation between rail operators in the port of Rotterdam. By sharing information more effectively, the platform helps to ensure more efficient operations and a more reliable rail network for all stakeholders”, said Jordy Hermes, Product Design Specialist at LTE.
Martin van der Linden, Production Manager at HSL, added: “Track Together will enable transport operators to collaborate more efficiently via the platform in the event of disruptions at the port of Rotterdam, thereby ensuring better utilisation of capacity”.
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Train movements under the scheme will be coordinated through the PortFlow application, developed by RailApp with support from the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Topcorridors programme.
During the pilot phase, the app developer, the Port Authority and participating operators will meet on a monthly basis to assess performance and review the collaboration.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam Authority – https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en
