The train is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which produces electrical power for traction. It emits only water and steam during operation, representing a clean alternative for the regional government looking to replace diesel fleets on non-electrified lines and meet their zero carbon emission objectives. In the Netherlands, the rail network is about 1,000 km of non-electrified railway lines.  Around 100 diesel trains are currently running on these lines daily.

NL. Accessed March 9, 2017. “Publiek-Private Samenwerking (PPS) bij het Rijk.” Netherlands Government website. Website. [#4606]

Image by Pixabay

The Netherlands has a rich history of private participation in the development of its public infrastructure, dating back to the country’s beginnings in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, the idea of formalized PPP immigrated to the Dutch political establishment in the 1980s from the United Kingdom’s experimentation with private finance initiatives. As a solution to the country’s budgetary woes, the Dutch government attempted PPP for a couple of tunnel projects at the end of the decade.

On the websites for the Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) and Rijksvastgoedbedrijf (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations) you can find information on public procurement. 

Image by Pixabay

European Commission Final Decision on the State Aid Case C 53/2006 (Investment by the City of Amsterdam in a fiber-to-the-home network)

The PPP Knowledge Centre is part of the Ministry of Finance.

Guard lock in the river Meuse in the municipality of Limmel.

Tender  for design, build, maintain and finance (DBFM) prepared and executed under the leadership of Rijkswaterstaat. Contract includes the reconstruction of the guard lock and management and maintenance of the new lock, dyke structures, culvert and fixed bridge for a period of 30 years. New tendering method that aims to reduce CO2 emissions was applied and tendering parties were stimulated to offer a lean design and to apply innovative materials and working methods. 

Tender for Design, Build, Maintain and Finance Contract (DBFM) of a new lock at the sea side of the Noordzeekanaal (North Sea Channel) in the harbour of Ijmuiden to give large ocean-going vessels access to the port of Amsterdam prepared and executed under the leadership of Rijkswaterstaat. New tendering method that aims to reduce CO2 emissions was applied and tendering parties were incentivized to offer a lean design and to apply innovative materials and working methods. 

Reconstruction Motorway A 6 Almere, Rikswaterstaat

Country case: Green public procurement in the Netherlands