Cracked viaduct on Netherlands high speed rail sees speed restriction extended for two years (original) (raw)

Cracks in a viaduct between Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands will see train speeds restricted until remediation works can be devised and completed in 2025.

The damage to the viaduct near Rijpwetering was discovered at the end of October. Engineers discovered cracks in the structure’s welds which are believed to have been caused by a design error that was made during its construction.

The line was built by Infraspeed between 2000 and 2009 and was handed over to the nation’s rail operator ProRail once complete. Trains on the line usually run at 160km/h or 300km/h, so the 80km/h limit is causing delays of three minutes on the Intercity Direct services and five to six minutes for Thalys and Eurostar services. It is hoped that the speed limit can be increased to 160km/h before the end of the year.

Engineers have said the construction of the viaduct is “not strong enough” because of an incorrect calculation at the time of construction.

Nine other viaducts within an 8km stretch were constructed the same way and are now being investigated. The speed limit on these viaducts has been decreased to 160km/h.

It has also been discovered that, since coming into operation in 2009, the track on the cracked viaduct near Rijpwetering has moved horizontally by 800mm. This displacement has been monitored since the viaduct’s construction but had not prompted any action prior to the speed limit being established for safety in October 2022.

ProRail has said that finding the solution to the problems is “difficult”. There is a question as to whether the piling for the viaduct can withstand the force of trains running at high speed over the structure.

Engineers will be using simulation programs to calculate this, as they cannot visibly see the piles. In order to do this accurately, engineers will have to take time in carrying out the calculations and processes. ProRail expects that “major repair work is required” once the solution has been identified.

Therefore, ProRail has announced that trains will not be able to resume maximum speed over the viaduct until “probably” 2025.

This means in 2023 and 2024 it will not achieve its mandate from the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to ensure that at least 82.1% of passengers on the high speed line are not delayed by more than five minutes. ProRail has said: “We find this very annoying, especially for travellers, but safety on the railway has priority at all times. We are working with the partners involved to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

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infraspeed netherlands prorail 2023-08-01

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