It is pointed out that freight transport by train does not function optimally throughout the Netherlands. The share of the railways in the total internal market is small (1%), and has shown a slight decline for many years, while the total internal market has been increasing. From an environmental-technical and (macro)economical point of view, there is still an urgent need for a rail freight transport method that meets the current list of requirements. On the basis of an analysis of the current freight transport and particularly the current transport by train, and the developments within the freight transport, a programme of requirements for a new system was formulated. An estimation was also made of the potential market for the new system. With the help of the programme of requirements, a number of designs were made systematically, one of which was worked out in more detail. Finally, a system was chosen consisting of two different subsystems that differ in speed and penetration capacity: a high speed and a slow speed train network. In comparison with the current transport product of the Netherlands Railways NS, the new system appears to offer a qualitatively better product with the same overall costs. Compared with the road transport, an equally qualitative and financial product is offered.
Samenvatting