ProRail studies battery and 25 kV electrification options for northern lines

NETHERLANDS: Infrastructure manager ProRail, the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and the provinces of Friesland and Groningen are undertaking a detailed study into the best electrification option to replace diesel trains on the northern regional rail lines in order to make a decision in autumn 2026.

The Dutch Climate Act requires rail transport to be climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest. The stakeholders of the northern lines see December 2035 as a logical moment to make the switch on the 250 km regional network, because this is when the current 15-year operating contract with Arriva ends and the Stadler diesel multiple-units will also be reaching the end of their lives.

Four options

Previous studies have shown that battery-powered and electric trains, in combination with partial or full electrification of routes, are promising options. The new study will look in greater detail at the infrastructure, rolling stock, cost and long-term implications of four scenarios, based on full or partial electrification with either the Netherlands’ legacy 1.5 kV DC electrification system or 25 kV 50 Hz, which is widely used internationally.

On the Dutch network, a 25 kV system is currently used only on the HSL Zuid high speed line and the Betuweroute freight corridor from Rotterdam to Germany.

A 1.5 kV DC system would require more substations, while 25 kV would be more efficient and deliver more power, but require heavier onboard transformers..

No batteries yet, but concept ‘taking off’

‘We don’t have battery trains in the Netherlands yet’, says Michiel Deerenberg, Programme Manager Innovation at ProRail. ‘They are already operating in neighbouring countries, and the concept is really taking off. The major advantage is that you can make the transition to emission-free travel with far less charging infrastructure. The main difference between battery trains that charge via 1.5 kV DC and 25 kV AC lies in the charging speed, the infrastructure and the weight of the train.’

ProRail’s North-East Regional Director Danou Veenhof emphasised the importance of co-operation with the provincial authorities, saying ‘the transition to emission-free rail transport requires smart choices in rolling stock and infrastructure. By investigating this together, we can determine what works best for train services on these lines and keep rail transport affordable.’

A final decision for the lines in Groningen and Friesland will be made in the autumn of 2026.

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