Amsterdam port gets dedicated rail line

Amsterdam port gets dedicated rail line    The Port of Amsterdam said this week it has become connected to the Betuweroute, a dedicated cargo rail track linking the city with Germany and other parts of Europe.
   'This means the port has managed to efficiently expand its railway connections to the hinterland,' the port said in a statement. 'It is a significant milestone in strengthening the position of the Amsterdam port in the European hinterland and indeed allows the city of Amsterdam to benefit from the rising interest in rail as a sustainable transport alternative.'
   Betuweroute already serves the Netherlands' biggest port, Rotterdam.
   'The direct connection to the Betuweroute is a significant and strategic supplement to the exquisite accessibility of the Amsterdam port by means of inland navigation and road transport,' said Dertje Meijer, Port of Amsterdam president and chief executive officer. 'But otherwise, the connection near Meteren does not stand alone. For instance, the Port of Amsterdam, with a view to the future, has been investing in a new rail connection to the Afrikahaven and in improving the harbor complex's connection to the Dutch railway network.'
   Operators of the dedicated rail line expect around 350 trains to be running on the line weekly by the end of 2010. The line mostly carries bulk cargo.