Train modernisation in Haarlem
The NS Train Modernisation (NSTM) site has a long and rich history. We have been modernising our trains here since 1839. To ensure the continuity of NS as a company and employer in the region, we are redesigning the NSTM site to prepare it for the future. Our aim is to use 80% less natural gas by 2030, and to stop using it entirely in the whole NSTM workshop. In the coming years, we will be increasing the sustainability of our buildings, renovating and/or redesigning existing, outdated buildings, and redesigning the current rail yard.
New rolling stock concourse
We will start by building a new climate-neutral rolling stock concourse. This is where current and newly acquired trains will be modernised and overhauled. It was no longer possible to adapt the old concourse on the Amsterdamsevaart for this purpose, so it has been demolished in accordance with circular methods. The soil will be remediated on the site of the demolished building, and new tracks will be laid.
The construction of the new rolling stock concourse will commence halfway through 2023. The planned location is adjacent to the existing white building, approximately level with Amsterdamsevaart house number 100. We aim to begin using the new rolling stock concourse in the spring of 2025.
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Frequently asked questions about the decommissioning of building 20
Is the building that is to be decommissioned by a circular method a heritage building?
No. Building 20, formerly known as 'Lichterij', is a concourse dating back to 1899. It was built to enable steam locomotive boilers to be hoisted/lifted off the undercarriage for major maintenance. This is how the building got its name. Later, other types of maintenance work were done here, including washing the trains, high voltage testing, and more recently, repairing the front of trains following collisions. Despite its age, the building is not heritage listed and is not a municipal or national monument.
Why are you not preserving and modernising the existing building?
Due to its age, Building 20 is no longer in good architectural condition and cannot be adapted to meet sustainability goals. The current building is also not large enough (both in terms of height and length) for future overhaul work. In modern trains, the technological installations are located on the roof, which means that safe working at height is required. In addition, special hoisting facilities are needed to replace the train undercarriages (also known as 'Jacob bogies').
Did the first train ever arrive in Building 20?
No. The first train in the Netherlands ran in 1839, and its terminus was located at the current NS Train Modernisation site, approximately where the current entrance to the site on Oudeweg is now located. A wooden station was opened there in 1839 to serve the Netherlands' first railroad between Amsterdam and Haarlem. Limited maintenance and repair facilities were already in place at this station. The central maintenance workshop was only later put into operation. The building that is now being dismantled by circular methods was built around 60 years after the first train was built.
Has a permit been issued for the decommissioning work?
Yes. Prior to commencement of the circular dismantling of Building 20, NSTM went through all of the applicable procedures at the Municipality of Haarlem and the Province of North Holland. The demolition notification was submitted to the Municipality of Haarlem on 15 June 2021 and approved on 24 June 2021.
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Frequently asked questions about the rolling stock concourse
What will the new concourse look like?
This impression of the concourse only indicates the space requirements, and not what the concourse will eventually look like. The building will be 10.95 m in height, the lowest 3 m of which will have windows. The new concourse is 200 m long and has a more open appearance on the eastern side. The facade will be tobacco/cognac in colour.
As soon as we have a clearer idea of the final appearance of the new concourse and its location relative to the Amsterdamsevaart (with respect to house numbers), we will share the information on this page.
Soil remediation and landscaping
The soil remediation process has meant that some of the trees along Amsterdamsevaart have been uprooted. Excavating the soil near the trees would have affected their root structure, possibly resulting in the trees being blown over towards Amsterdamsevaart during a storm. Research has revealed that most of the trees could be preserved by pollarding. Those trees that could not be saved will be replaced in accordance with the municipality of Haarlem's replanting obligation. This means that we will plant new young trees to compensate for each tree that is uprooted. Our top priority is to preserve the green appearance of the site and improve it where possible.
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Frequently asked questions about green space
Is it really necessary to cut down trees?
Yes. The soil remediation process will require some of the trees to be uprooted along Amsterdamsevaart. Excavating the soil near the trees will affect their root structure, possibly resulting in the trees being blown over towards Amsterdamsevaart during a storm. Wherever possible, trees will be preserved by means of pollarding.
Will the trees be replanted?
Yes. We will make arrangements with the municipality with respect to the obligation to replant, and we intend to adhere to this as much as possible on the workshop site.
Is there space for bat boxes?
Yes, bat boxes will continue to hang on the NSTM site. On the municipality's request, we have sought temporary shelter for the bats during the demolition of Building 20. New bat boxes will also be hung in the new rolling stock concourse.
Will greenery/vegetation also be added that is visible from Amsterdamsevaart?
No extra greenery will be added to Amsterdamsevaart. The current vegetation will be preserved. There will, however, be a lot of greenery added to the NSTM site.
Construction activities and traffic
The redevelopment of the NSTM site will involve demolition and construction activities and the supply and removal of construction materials. This may inconvenience residents in the surrounding area. We will make every effort to minimise this inconvenience, however. Wherever possible, operations will take place during the day. It may occasionally be necessary to work at night or during the weekend, for example on the tracks or high-voltage cables above them. However, we will only do this if it is strictly necessary, such as when the construction cannot be combined effectively with NSTM's processes.
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Frequently asked questions about construction works and traffic
Is the renovation of the site likely to cause noise pollution?
The renovation may involve some inconvenience to the surrounding areas. For example, there will be more construction traffic to and from the NSTM site, which will be routed through a temporary construction entrance via the Amsterdamsevaart. To accommodate this, the current emergency entrance will be relocated about 100m to the east. The construction activities will involve working during the day as much as possible.
Will the foundations of houses along the Amsterdamsevaart be affected by the pumping away of groundwater?
No. It appears that this will not be the case, because only a limited amount of groundwater is to be pumped away. In addition, the Amsterdamsevaart lies between the construction site and the houses, and will have a levelling effect. Whenever pumping seems necessary, NS Train Modernisation will have a pumping recommendation prepared that examines matters such as the likely environmental effects.
How will the foundations for the new building be laid?
Environmental factors will be taken into account when considering the piling method. Examples include the proximity of our tracks and the buildings in the immediate vicinity, such as workshops and homes. Our guiding principle for the piling operations is that they must be carried out with little or no vibration. It is very likely that the foundation piles will be drilled.
Why have vibration meters been installed in homes along Amsterdamsevaart?
Because demolition and construction works may cause disruption, we prefer to keep a close eye on this. At the start of March 2022, we received some reports of possible damage. For this reason, we immediately installed vibration meters in a number of homes on the Amsterdamsevaart, and structural surveys have been carried out since then. Up until now, the vibration measurements have returned extremely low values. This means that any damage is unlikely to be due to the construction works. Ultimately, any damage that occurs will be assessed by an expert to determine whether it has been caused by the construction activities.
If you experience any inconvenience as a result of the work, please notify us by sending an email to nstm.informatie@ns.nl. We will then contact you personally.
Will construction activities take place during the day?
Construction operations will be carried out wherever possible between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. It may occasionally be necessary to work during the night or on weekends. Examples include work on the tracks or the high-voltage cables above them. However, we will only do this if it is strictly necessary, such as when the construction cannot be combined effectively with NSTM's processes.
How will the proposed additional entrance on Amsterdamsevaart affect local residents?
This concerns a proposed exit on the Amsterdamsevaart that we are still discussing with the municipality.
By shifting the entrance to the Amsterdamsevaart, we can improve the current unsafe situation at the tunnel. The intersection at the Amsterdamsevaart does not need to be modified for this entrance, but a tree will need to be uprooted to enable access.
The new entrance will only be used by truck traffic bringing materials to the site or taking them away. They will come and go via the same route on the Amsterdamsevaart. This is made possible by allowing truck traffic to turn around on the NSTM site. This new entrance is expected to be used five to 10 times per day. The entrance is not intended for NSTM employees.