From Saturday 9 August to Monday 18 August no trains run between Blerick and Mook-Molenhoek. This mainly has consequences for travelers in the Land van Cuijk. The nine -day activities are an important part of the upgrading of the more than eighty kilometers long Maas line. “Work is going on very hard,” says Lotte Kaatee, spokesperson at ProRail.
With 22,000 travelers a day, the Maas line is one of the busiest regional lines in the country. The 88 -kilometer route is no longer of this time. Outdated diesel trains from Arriva, which cannot handle the large number of passengers, are running over a largely single track.
A few months ago the work in various phases on the track between Nijmegen and Roermond started. This train -free period is one of the longest within the project. “It is a huge job. In different places people work very hard in those days, especially in the Brabant part.”
For travelers who normally go by train, Arriva, the carrier in the area, has arranged replacement bus transport. “There are stop buses between Venlo and Mook-Molenhoek and quick buses between Venray and Mook-Molenhoek. Travelers must take into account with a longer travel time and the fact that bicycles cannot be included in the bus,” says a spokesperson for Arriva.
From diesel trains to electricity
The trains that cross the Maas line are still running on diesel. These activities are, among other things, to allow electric trains to run on this track. “During this period we will construct the foundations for the overhead lines. This allows the trains to run electrically,” says Lotte Katee of ProRail.
“A special working train is used for this,” the spokesperson adds. “This can be a kilometer long. The train runs very slowly over the track and in the meantime removes old foundations and immediately places new back. As a result, some railway crossings are temporarily closed.”
Even more changes
The electrification of the track is not the only thing that is about to happen. Work is also being done on the track at Cuijk and Boxmeer station. “We replace sleepers, adjust platforms, make switches, short traces and provide them with bumps.”
The work must be ready in 2027. “In four places there will be an extra piece of track, making trains passing each other more easily. And it will also be a lot safer,” adds Katee. “Because various railway crossings are also improved.”
Tens of years ago, the approach to the Maas line was already discussed. Once it was even the intention to complete the work in 2020. But the discussions between the government and the provinces of Brabant, Gelderland and Limburg were always delayed, among other things by Steggel about money and Corona.
More information about the replacement buses and the closed consideration in the Land van Cuijk can be found on the website of the municipality.