The Port of Rotterdam Authority, together with ProRail and Swietelsky Rail Benelux, has launched construction of the new Maasvlakte Zuid (Emz) rail terminal, a strategic facility designed to support the growth of rail freight traffic from the Port of Rotterdam to the European hinterland. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on 13 October 2025, was attended by representatives of the City of Rotterdam, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the European Parliament.
The project’s first phase includes the construction of six sidings capable of accommodating freight trains up to 740 metres long, along with their connections to the existing rail network. This section is scheduled to come into operation by mid-2027. Three additional sections will be built later, depending on expected growth in rail freight traffic beyond 2027. The new terminal is designed to handle longer trains than the current average of around 600 metres, bringing efficiency gains through more containers per journey, fewer overall train movements and reduced cost per tonne of cargo.
The investment is part of a joint strategy by the Port Authority, ProRail and the Ministry of Infrastructure to increase the capacity of the Maasvlakte rail link, addressing the expected rise in container volumes passing through Europe’s largest port. According to the Port Authority, rail transport is a key component of both Dutch and European logistics competitiveness and sustainability, helping to cut emissions and road congestion.
The Maasvlakte Zuid project is part of a broader development plan extending to 2040, which includes electrification of sections of the port railway, upgrades to curve C2, and the construction of two additional through tracks. These works aim to eliminate current bottlenecks and improve the port’s rail accessibility, strengthening connections to the TEN-T trans-European freight corridors.
