Dutch Rail Freight Faces Significant Cost Disadvantages Compared to Belgium and Germany

ROTTERDAM, June 2026 — The shifting landscape of European logistics has placed a spotlight on the financial viability of rail transport as a primary mode for cross-border freight. As the industry strives for decarbonization and increased efficiency, the underlying costs of infrastructure access have become a critical determinant in the routing of international trade flows through major North Sea ports.

A joint benchmark conducted by ProRail and the Port of Rotterdam Authority indicates that Dutch rail operators face infrastructure expenses up to 76% higher than their Belgian counterparts for representative container flows. While Belgium provides a direct subsidy of EUR 1.20 per train-kilometre and Germany offers track access reimbursements of over 32%, the Netherlands currently lacks an equivalent national support mechanism. These disparities extend to stabling costs, where Dutch facilities charge approximately EUR 18 per hour, while similar services in Belgium are often provided at little to no cost.

For regional stakeholders and infrastructure managers, these findings underscore a growing risk of modal backshift toward road transport, particularly for short-distance flows. The data shows that chemical transport between Rotterdam and Ludwigshafen is already 25% more expensive via rail than comparable routes from Antwerp, a gap projected to widen to nearly 28% by 2026. Such financial headwinds have contributed to a 17% decline in rail freight traffic at the Port of Rotterdam between 2022 and 2025, excluding coal transport.

Historically, the Netherlands has served as a gateway for European rail freight, but the current lack of fiscal parity with neighboring states is altering the competitive dynamics of the Rhine-Alpine corridor. The study highlights that without intervention or harmonized subsidy structures, the Dutch rail sector may continue to lose market share to competing ports that benefit from more aggressive national infrastructure support policies.

Ultimately, the findings link the local challenges of Dutch rail operators to broader European trends regarding the 'level playing field' in transport. As Germany prepares to increase its track access reimbursements to 36.8% in 2026, the pressure on the Netherlands to align its infrastructure pricing strategy with its neighbors will likely intensify to prevent further erosion of its rail freight volumes and logistics competitiveness.

Source: Latest Railway News