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VDL Groep
Hoevenweg 1 5652 AW Eindhoven
© VDL Groep 2026
Hoevenweg 1 5652 AW Eindhoven
The Maaslijn 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 cannot be made up and disruptions cannot be absorbed because trains can only pass each other at stations. The provinces of Limburg, North Brabant and Gelderland, together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, have therefore decided to electrify the Maaslijn 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 still run today, a fully electric connection will soon be in place. And that is precisely where we come in. We, VD Leegte Metaal, manufacture crucial structures 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.
At the end of 2027, the first electric train will run along the upgraded Maas line, and VD Leegte Metaal is proud to be part of the journey towards achieving this.
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 along routes with limited coverage.
Travellers expect a reliable internet connection during their journey, while digital systems for communications, signalling and safety also depend on constant connectivity. FRMCS masts make this possible, even at high speeds and in locations where regular mobile masts do not provide sufficient 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 Flexfoundation?
An IBH Flexfoundation is a modular, flexible (precast) concrete foundation system, specifically developed as a temporary load-bearing 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 necessary?
For large-scale infrastructure projects such as the renewal of the Marzahnerbrücke, a reliable and fast foundation for the overhead line is essential. Traditional foundations require extensive excavation and curing time, and disrupt the construction schedule. IBH Flexfundations provide a strong, immediately load-bearing solution that safely supports the overhead line, including on temporary or modified railway routes, without unnecessary delays or disruption.
Why an IBH Flexfoundation?
The IBH Flexfoundation ensures safety. The system has been fully engineered and verified, is “Grün Gestempelt” and has therefore been approved by the technical authority (TAB) in Germany.
In this project, the foundations were also approved by Deutsche Bahn.
This makes the IBH Flex foundation a safe and technically fully managed solution for temporary mast foundations.
Container transport in the Port of Rotterdam will continue to increase, as will 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 rail development. Between 2025 and 2027, Swietelsky is carrying out the first phase of Maasvlakte South: a new railway yard. We, VD Leegte Metaal, are manufacturing specialist structural works for the overhead line systems at this railway yard, including cross structures for suspension with spans of more than 33 metres.
As part of ProRail’s High-Frequency Rail Programme (PHS), the comprehensive redevelopment of Amsterdam Central is now well under way. Existing platforms are being widened and extended, 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, distinct projects on opposite sides of the station. We, VD Leegte Metaal, are supplying the steel structures 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 rail curve will enable freight trains to travel directly from the Betuweroute to the south and vice versa. This will increase the capacity of the Betuweroute and create more space for freight transport. In 2026, Swietelsky will work on the overhead line equipment; once this has been completed, the track can be realigned in 2027. Working closely together, we are providing the specialist overhead line structures for the first part of the project.
By combining the strengths of Weenk Infra Foundations and VDL Metaal, we deliver innovative, 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 offers a fast, sustainable and reliable solution for overhead lines, lighting columns, noise barriers and safety fencing.
Thanks to compact installation machines, 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 VDL Metaal have now successfully completed more than 2,000 foundations.