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The Rijkswaterstaat, a department of the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works, is responsible for the organization of the project. The government awarded the largest ever Public-private Partnership (PPP) contract to the consortium Infraspeed until 2030 ; it is responsible for design, construction, financing and maintenance. The line will feature state-of-the-art technology, including ETCS level 2 train control systems provided by Siemens AG and Alcatel . ROUTE Between Amsterdam and Schiphol High Speed Train s will use the existing line. South of Schiphol the dedicated high speed tracks begin, paralleling the existing railway line until Nieuw-Vennep . The line then branches off eastwards, continuing along the west side of Roelofarendsveen and Hoogmade and entering a tunnel east of Leiderdorp (this tunnel having been built in order to protect the character of the so-called '' Green Heart '' region). North of Zoetermeer the train line leaves the tunnel west of Hazerswoude -Dorp; it subsequently passes to the east of Benthuizen , and on an elevated track east of Zoetermeer , then back on the surface between Berkel En Rodenrijs and Bergschenhoek , and after a tunnel, joins the existing line again north of Rotterdam . Trains run briefly on existing tracks for a few kilometers before entering the high speed line again. At Barendrecht the two tracks cross each other and the trains begin left-hand running as in Belgium and France . From here the line runs next to the existing railway as well as the Betuweroute . It then continues through the Hoekse Waard area, bypassing Dordrecht . South of Dordrecht, it runs next to the A16 motorway with a branch running to the city of Breda . South of Breda, the line follows the motorway towards Antwerp . JOURNEY TIMES The new line will greatly improve journey times for international and domestic services.
FARES HSA has announced that off-peak prices will be very competitive with those of the conventional train; however peak hour travel by high-speed train will be more expensive, with a reported 60% fare increase over regular trains. There has been discussion about lowering the fee the HSA has to pay for use of the line, in exchange for a lowering of peak fares to 25% over regular trains, but the government has rejected this. Dutch Rail passes will not be valid on the Thalys or on the shuttle trains. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |