ProRail is reaching its limits on a rail job in Deinum: ‘There is so much work for the construction industry in the Netherlands’

The tender for the tunnel job in Deinum started in June 2023. The aim was to construct the pedestrian tunnel exactly one year later. This had to be done during the ‘train-free period’; the period in which train traffic is partly at a standstill due to the extensive approach to the station in Leeuwarden. The tunnel could open in August 2024. However, this does not work.

ProRail works with a limited number of contractors. The railway manager does this in a so-called tunnel alliance. This includes nine selected companies. They meet the requirements set by ProRail for works on the track.

Of the nine companies, only two appeared to be interested in the tunnel project. Later one of these two withdrew. So one company remained. “However, the registration of this party was so high, far above the available budget, that it could be said to be an unacceptable registration,” said the municipality of Waadhoeke. ProRail subsequently decided not to award the contract. The tender had failed.

Outside the alliance

The rail manager wanted to move forward and approached a company from outside the tunnel alliance that was interested in the job. And that could remain within the available budget. ProRail hoped that the underpass could still be built in 2024.

This also turned out differently. The company in the alliance objected and ProRail turned out not to be allowed to simply approach a company from outside this group. The rail manager must now carry out the tender procedure again. The companies in the alliance must first be approached again. Conclusion: construction in 2024 is no longer feasible. The ‘re-tendering’ has now started. The delay can easily amount to a year.

Unnecessarily vulnerable?

Isn’t ProRail making itself unnecessarily vulnerable with a tunnel alliance of only nine companies? No, says spokesperson Aldert Baas. According to him, the alliance is intended to make good agreements with contractors and municipalities. And to be able to build railway tunnels as quickly and cheaply as possible. This usually works out well. “For example, this was recently achieved during the construction of a tunnel in Apeldoorn.”

Now the process is a little less happy. Boss: “Unfortunately, tenders fail. This delay is very annoying for Deinum and the surrounding area, we think so too.”

According to him, ProRail is reaching its limits. “It is a national trend that there are fewer and fewer registrations for tenders. There is clearly pressure on the market. There is so much work for Dutch construction workers. Contractors can refuse work much more easily than before or choose targeted jobs, closer for example, or more suited to the specialty of their company.”