Planned public investment is not enough to keep freight transport flowing well after 2030. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment's National Market and Capacity Analysis, many potential bottlenecks are emerging on the corridor to Germany in particular.
The pressure on freight transport is caused by population and economic growth. But even when the economy is not growing fast, traffic continues to increase. According to the analysis, part of the mobility can be absorbed by the Multiannual Programme for Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Transport (MIRT) and regional investments. This programme runs until 2030. To avoid getting bogged down after that period, the ministry says, "broad consideration should be given to both infrastructural and non-infrastructural measures, e.g. innovation and Better Use". The bottlenecks would arise mainly on the corridor to Germany, in road, water and rail transport. In road and rail transport, there is a potential transport bottleneck. On water, there is no capacity problem, but due to soil erosion at low tide, there might be limitations in the depth of the boat.
Passenger transport also faces a capacity problem, according to the analysis. While mobility is actually decreasing in rural areas, transport between major cities is actually increasing. Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven in particular are facing major challenges. The ministry also calls it a challenge to maintain transport facilities in rural areas. "In the shrinkage areas, mobility is declining in a number of cases. There are other challenges in these areas, such as keeping facilities accessible in an affordable way," the analysis says.
Download the National Market and Capacity Analysis here.
Editorial team LogistiekProfs
