The maintenance works at Kijfhoek classification yard were postponed for an unknown time. In order not to suspend the train traffic, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager ProRail and the contractor Swietelsky decided to delay the launch of works. Initially, the start was scheduled for last week, from 1 to 4 August.

The maintenance works should be performed from this August to April 2020. Swietelsky is obliged to renew 16 railway switches, replace 1 kilometre of tracks, provide maintenance on 39 overhead line portals and adjust a level crossing. “Shortly before the start of the work, a conflict was found between the impact of the works on Kijfhoek and the scheduled freight transport. Because of this, they could not execute simultaneously,” ProRail explained in the official statement. According to it, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager is looking for a new solution.

Kijfhoek yard

Kijfhoek classification yard is located between Rotterdam and Dordrecht. It has an area of 50 hectares, includes 43 tracks, 14 arrival tracks and 12 stabling tracks. The Kijfhoek yard is the largest in the Netherlands with a capacity for handling 4,000 wagons per day. The facility serves around 600-700 wagons a day. In 2017 ProRail started to upgrade the rail infrastructure of the yard.