RandstadRail upgrades on hold after Dutch cabinet redirects funding

NETHERLANDS: The cabinet has halted €270m of government funding which had been earmarked for capacity upgrades on the RandstadRail and Rotterdam metro networks. While rolling stock purchases will still proceed, the regional transport authority has warned that plans to increase services are now under threat.

On October 16 the national infrastructure ministry announced an additional €18bn of government funding to renew ageing bridges and other key infrastructure. However projects have been reprioritised, and some seen as less urgent put on hold to free up funds, including the RandstadRail upgrade.

The cancelled grant was intended to co-fund major network upgrades to support plans which include running services every 5 min on RandstadRail between Zoetermeer and Den Haag Centraal, and the use of coupled trainsets on RandstadRail lines 2, 3 and 4.

In July 2025 the Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag, which brings together the many urbanised municipalities in the region, approved the estimated €578m procurement of 38 trainsets for the Rotterdam metro. It also set aside more than €60m for related infrastructure works.

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