Design of OV SAAL Southern Branch Line (West)

(25-11-2010)

In 2010, ProRail and the consortium ‘Combinatie Nieuwe Meer Sporen’ (CNMS) signed a partnership agreement under which they tendered for the western section of the ‘OV SAAL Southern Branch Line’ project. The partnership is now known as Amsterdam WALTZ (Westelijk Alliantie Team Zuidtak). CNMS comprises VolkerRail and Van Hattum en Blankevoort.

OV SAAL

OV SAAL stands for Spooruitbreiding Openbaar Vervoer (‘Public Transport Rail Expansion’) Schiphol, Amsterdam, Almere, Lelystad. The expansion of rail infrastructure on this route has been made necessary by the increase in rail traffic to and from Almere and the opening of the new Hanze Line in late 2012. The route of the ‘southern branch line’ between Hoofddorp and Diemen was confirmed in 2010. The project has been divided into two sections, each to be conducted under a separate contract. The western section involves a widening of the existing railway between Riekerpolder and Amsterdam Zuid WTC station. The eastern section covers the work between Amsterdam Zuid WTC and Duivendrecht.

WALTZ

Railinfra Solutions (RIS) and ProRail are undertaking the design process on behalf of CNMS. RIS is a cooperative alliance between Witteveen+Bos, Royal Haskoning and DB International. The overall contract covers the design phase, the preparation and the construction of the rail superstructure and substructure. CNMS and RIS have been involved in the project since the tendering phase. Having submitted a successful tender, they continued their partnership as the WALTZ alliance, which will undertake all activities up to and including the final design. Implementation can then begin.

Completion

“The close cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the partners offers great opportunities for all concerned,” states Joop van der Velde of Railinfra Solutions. “We expect the project to be completed on time and within budget. The risks will be managed with a joint fund. Implementation is to begin on schedule during the second half of 2011, with completion planned for 2016. Needless to say, all quality and safety requirements will be strictly observed, while disruption to the environment and local residents will be kept to a minimum.”