The railway line from Rotterdam via Duisburg to Basle and Milan, which is vital for international rail freight transport, was closed for the long-term on 12 August 2017 due to subsidence during works in South-West Germany.
The usual diversion routes in Germany are also unavailable.
International rail transport on the important Rhine Alpine European rail corridor has come to a standstill. Hundreds of cargo trains have been effected over the past few days. Rail freight transport and the whole supply chain of producers, transporters, companies and consumers is suffering.
Freight transporters, intermodal operators and the Port of Rotterdam are extremely concerned about safeguarding rail accessibility to the European hinterland for the port of Rotterdam and the Netherlands. Long-term closure is not an option.