Hans has been involved in Rail Ghent Terneuzen from the beginning. "In 2017, it became clear that there are bottlenecks in the rail network between Ghent and Terneuzen. The rail in this part of the port is therefore not ready for the future. Since we, as North Sea Port, want to become more sustainable, more capacity on the rail is needed for sustainable transport by train. This project is extremely important for the future of the companies in our port."
Letter of Intent
The preparation of a major infrastructure project takes more than ten years, so you have to start research early. Hans: "With European funding, we conducted several preliminary studies on possible improvements to the rail network." This led to the first milestone in 2021: the signing of the letter of intent between the Dutch and Belgian ministries, municipalities, provinces, rail managers, and North Sea Port.
Belgian-Dutch Collaboration
In 2023, the Belgian-Dutch project organization Rail Ghent Terneuzen was launched to further explore the plans. Hans: "In the project organization, we work together with experts from the Belgian rail manager Infrabel, their subsidiary TUC Rail, the Dutch rail manager ProRail, and North Sea Port." The team is led by two project leaders: Maarten Mulder on behalf of ProRail and Bram Cornelis on behalf of Infrabel. Hans fulfills a coordinating role on behalf of North Sea Port.
Project Organization Takes Shape
De afgelopen jaren zijn er veel ontmoetingen geweest om de projectorganisatie vorm te geven en elkaar beter te leren kennen. “Elke organisatie heeft een andere cultuur en manier van werken. We hebben heldere afspraken gemaakt en alle rollen goed verdeeld," legt Hans uit. “Door het organiseren van teamdagen, hebben we elkaar op een informele manier beter leren kennen, wat bijdraagt aan de samenwerking.”
Bridging Differences
In addition to different organizational cultures, there are also cultural and political differences between the Netherlands and Belgium. "But that is precisely what makes the project interesting," says the project coordinator of North Sea Port. "We all share the same goal." An example of that collaboration is aligning the permitting procedures in the Netherlands and Flanders. "That requires flexibility and understanding from both sides." Infrabel and ProRail bring valuable rail knowledge, while fusion port North Sea Port brings experience with cross-border projects. "We are, as it were, the connecting link between Belgium and the Netherlands," Hans explains. "We complement each other well as project partners."
Solid Financial Foundation
Hans is glad that a solid financial foundation has been laid for the project in recent years. "The Dutch government has committed funds from the 'Wind in de Zeilen' package and The National Growth Fund. The Belgian federal government has reserved an equivalent amount," Hans says proudly. "In July 2023, we also received an EU subsidy for the exploration phase. Governments at various levels are supporting this unique project."
Starting Soon with the Exploration Phase
The coming years will see important milestones. "We are waiting for the green light to start the exploration phase. Hopefully, we will start at the end of 2024," Hans says. "In the exploration phase, we will investigate which solutions are possible and desirable to improve the rail network between Ghent and Terneuzen. During the process, we will organize several information evenings in Belgium and the Netherlands. We want to closely involve the local community. We expect to complete the exploration phase by the end of 2027. By then, we will know where adjustments to the rail network are desired."
