VDL Groep
Hoevenweg 1 5652 AW Eindhoven
© VDL Groep 2026
Hoevenweg 1 5652 AW Eindhoven
The Maas Line is the railway connection between Nijmegen and Roermond. Approximately 22,000 passengers use this connection every day, making it one of the busiest regional railway lines in the Netherlands. In the original situation, delays could not be made up and disruptions could not be absorbed, because trains could only pass each other at stations. The provinces of Limburg, North Brabant and Gelderland, together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, therefore decided to electrify the Maas Line in collaboration with ProRail. This will enable reliable services to be provided on this route.
From 2025 through to 2027, Swietelsky will be working hard to make this railway line reliable and sustainable. Where diesel trains currently run, a fully electric connection will soon be in place. And that is precisely where we come in. At VD Leegte Metaal, we manufacture crucial structural components for overhead line systems and take care of the customer throughout the entire supply chain. From drawings to Just-In-Time deliveries, wherever they are needed along the railway line.
By the end of 2027, the first electric train will run along the upgraded Maaslijn, and VD Leegte Metaal is proud to be part of the journey towards it.
To improve connectivity and reliability during train journeys, VDL NPS is installing FRMCS masts along the railway on behalf of Deutsche Bahn. These masts enhance 5G coverage and provide a stable connection for both passengers and railway systems, including in tunnels, rural areas and on routes with limited coverage.
Travellers expect a reliable internet connection during their journey, while digital systems for communication, signalling and safety also depend on constant connectivity. FRMCS masts make this possible, even at high speeds and in locations where conventional masts provide insufficient coverage.
VDL NPS manages the entire process: from site analysis and permits through to engineering, construction and handover. Thanks to this integrated approach, VDL NPS is Deutsche Bahn’s first and only point of contact throughout the project.
For the Marzahnerbrücke project in Berlin, VDL Mast Solutions supplied IBH Flex foundations.
What is an IBH Flexfundament?
An IBH Flexfundament is a modular, flexible (precast) concrete foundation system, specifically developed as a temporary supporting structure for railway and tram lines. Thanks to its stackable concrete elements and integrated mast base, it can be installed quickly, easily adapted, and subsequently dismantled and reused.
Why is it needed?
For large-scale infrastructure works such as the renewal of the Marzahnerbrücke, a reliable and fast foundation for the overhead line is essential. Traditional foundations require extensive excavation, curing time and disrupt the construction schedule. IBH Flexfundations provide a sturdy, immediately load-bearing solution that safely supports the overhead line, including on temporary or modified track layouts, without unnecessary delays or disruption.
Why an IBH Flexfundation?
The IBH Flexfundation ensures safety. The system has been fully calculated from an engineering perspective, is “green stamped” and has therefore been accepted by the technical authority (TAB) in Germany.
For this project, the foundations were also approved by Deutsche Bahn.
This makes the IBH Flex foundation a safe, technically fully managed solution for temporary mast foundations.
Container transport in the Port of Rotterdam will continue to increase, along with rail freight transport to and from the Maasvlakte. To meet this growth, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, ProRail, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and the European Union are investing in sustainable and efficient railway development. Between 2025 and 2027, Swietelsky is constructing the first phase of Maasvlakte Zuid: a new railway yard. We, VD Leegte Metaal, are manufacturing specialised structural works for the overhead line systems at this yard, including cross-span structures for the suspension system with spans of more than 33 metres.
As part of ProRail’s High-Frequency Rail Programme (PHS), the comprehensive refurbishment of Amsterdam Central is now well underway. Existing platforms are being widened and lengthened, access routes to the platforms are being modified, and an eastern passenger tunnel with shops is being built. At the eastern entrance, five railway bridges are also being replaced, allowing more trains to run to and from the station from 2030 onwards. Here, Strukton and Dura Vermeer are independently working on two major, different projects on opposite sides of the station. We, VD Leegte Metaal, are supplying the steel structural work for the overhead line systems for both projects.
As part of ProRail’s High-Frequency Rail Programme (PHS), work will be carried out over the coming years on the Zuidwestboog Meteren project. The new railway curve will make it possible for freight trains to travel directly from the Betuweroute to the south and vice versa. This will increase the capacity of the Betuweroute and provide more space for freight transport. In 2026, Swietelsky will work on the overhead line; once this has been completed, the railway can be realigned in 2027. Working closely together, we are providing the specialised overhead line structures for the first section of the project.
By combining the strengths of Weenk Infra Foundations and VD Leegte Metaal, we deliver innovative and future-proof foundation solutions for infrastructure projects. Weenk’s expertise in foundation engineering, combined with VDL Metaal’s high-quality production capacity, results in a reliable solution that brings together speed, sustainability and quality.
The Wing Screw Foundation provides a fast, sustainable and reliable solution for overhead line systems, lighting columns, noise barriers and safety fences.
Thanks to compact installation machinery, foundations can be installed without modifying underground cables. This makes the Wing Screw Foundation one of the most efficient solutions for projects beneath cabling systems.
Together, Weenk Infra Foundations and VD Leegte Metaal have now successfully completed more than 2,000 foundations.
In 2025, VDL Mast Solutions supplied cylindrical steel tensioning masts to BOGESTRA AG. The masts are up to 13 metres long and designed for top tensile forces of up to 30 kN. To safely withstand these forces, tube diameters of up to 500 mm were used.
For optimum corrosion protection, the masts are hot-dip galvanised and coated with a high-quality multi-layer wet paint system. In addition, all masts are treated with an HMR base protection system, ensuring long-lasting and reliable structural performance.
