Triva help with Netherlands and belgium

[Tigergarth]

Hi hoping if anyone could help
Looking to visit the above hoping to see some of the freight trains that they run and wondering which would be the best stations to visit and is there like a freight timetable that you cound see in internet
Mtia ady

 

[Halish Railway]

Lage Zwaluwe is probably your best bet as it's adjacent to a freight yard and the Rotterdam to Antwerp high speed line and near to a junction connecting to a Sea terminal. Its worth noting that many trains from the Port of Rotterdam towards Germany use the dedicated freight line called the Betuweroute and thus bypass many stations, although it does parallel some of the diesel only route between Dordrecht and Geldermalsen. It's worth pointing out that most mainlines in the Netherlands still get occasional freight services throughout the day, its just most freight is conveyed by the aforementioned Betuweroute.

To the second point, I'm not aware of any open data for freight trains in the Netherlands. Generally in mainland Europe its quite hard to come across any open data.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Its worth noting that many trains from the Port of Rotterdam towards Germany use the dedicated freight line called the Betuweroute...

I did a couple of hours linesiding by the Betuweroute back in 2017, taking the train from Dordrecht to Sliedrecht. A few decent viewpoints for photos, and enough freight traffic not to get too bored.

 

[Bemined]

Freight trains between Rotterdam and Germany are often diverted via Venlo due to engineering works between Emmerich and Oberhausen. You can find a schedule of when the line is closed here: https://www.prorail.nl/siteassets/h...poor---planning-trein-vrije-periode-final.pdf

During the purple weeks ('Volledige stremming' meaning full closure) you will get significantly more freight trains on the Dordrecht - Breda - Eindhoven - Venlo route (up to four per hour).

 

[dutchflyer]

Greetings from a pretty cold till icy NL now. Though I am not much interested in freight etc some claryfying notes;
About all (>95%) of fregiht is from Rotterdam port to Germany. Mostly via specially made for that ´Betuwelijn´ that ends in the Arnhem-German border line. Very,very occasionally even used for rerouted pax-trains. BUT in DE=Germany long time construction to build an extra 3d track along that section to the Rhein/Ruhr area means it will be closed this summer-hence many trains rerouted via Eindhoven-Venlo -onward. So WHEN is quite crucial for your quest.
Lage Zwaluwe is just south of the Moerdijk bridges-main line south from Rotterdam toward Breda-both normal/old and newer=HStracks there.

 

[Bemined]

Betuwelijn is a passenger line, the freight line is called the BetuweRoute. They are parallel to each other at some parts but there is no physical connection between the two. Passenger trains are only allowed to use the BetuweRoute between Meteren (near Geldermalsen) and Elst as passengers are not allowed in the tunnel sections of the BetuweRoute. Only the ICE and NightJet use this when there is a disruption between Utrecht and Arnhem, where NJ probably won't use it anymore as it no longer runs via Arnhem.

 

[Tigergarth]

Thank you for your replys chaps most helpfull

 

[MarcVD]

In Belgium, there is a good deal of freight trains in and out of Antwerp port that go through the station of Berchem. Lots of passenger traffic there too.