Peijs in conflict with Dutch Parliament about the Betuweroute

Minister of Transport and Public Works Peijs and a large majority of the Dutch Parliament are in conflict with each other about the exploitation of the Betuweroute.

Minister Peijs still holds on to the fact that ProRail should exploit the Betuweroute for the first years to come. Dutch Parliament insist a commercial party, like the Port of Rotterdam, should be added for the exploitation of the Betuweroute.

Peijs wants the exploitation done by ProRail for the first three years without interference of other commercial companies. The majority of the Dutch Parliament thinks this is not a good idea. Liberal Parliamentarian Hofstra wants ProRail to start the exploitation on the 1^st of January 2007, but insists commercial parties should be added in short time. Most parties of Parliament agreed on that point.

A consortium with the participation of Port of Rotterdam, Port of Amsterdam, ProRail and Towrail (private group Babcock & Brown) was set up to exploit the Betuweroute but Prorail didn’t see any future in this cooperation. The Port of Rotterdam is still interested in participation.

Peijs and the Dutch Parliament will discuss this further in a few weaks.