2026 an Important Year for Extending the North/South Line

The extension of the North/South Line and the completion of the Zuidasdok are indispensable together for accessibility around Amsterdam South and Schiphol and necessary to keep the Netherlands moving, both internationally and nationally. 

The current cabinet will not make decisions about the funding and execution of the projects. In his letter, the minister writes that it is up to the next cabinet to make these choices. Much depends on the decisions the parties currently forming the coalition will make.

Space for passengers and train traffic

The extension of the North/South Line and the completion of Zuidasdok are closely linked. Without Zuidasdok, Amsterdam South station cannot safely handle future passenger growth and international train traffic cannot further expand. 

Without the North/South Line, pressure on the Schiphol tunnel will continue to increase and the much-needed space on the railway will be lacking. If either project stalls, it affects the whole system. Because the region around Amsterdam – Schiphol – Hoofddorp acts as a hub in the national rail network, the consequences will be felt throughout the country. 

Additionally, the projects directly affect international accessibility and the economic climate of the Netherlands. Therefore, under the name North/South Line Coalition, a petition was recently started by a broad group of companies urging the cabinet to extend the North/South Line.

Safety

According to the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer and its partners, it is not sufficient to extend the line only to Schiphol and stop there. Many passengers currently use the direct airport sprinter from Amsterdam Central Station to Hoofddorp. This line runs 8 times per hour and will be discontinued with the extension of the North/South Line. 

If the North/South Line is not extended beyond Schiphol, more passengers will have to transfer to other means of transport to reach Hoofddorp. This will cause unnecessary congestion at the airport, leading to less oversight and thus less safety. Extending to Hoofddorp is, according to the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the only sensible option.

Lack of funding

The MIRT is the national consultation in which the government and regions jointly determine which major road, rail, and public transport projects will be built, when, and who pays for them. Notably, the extension of the North/South Line and the completion of Zuidasdok are widely supported in the election programs of almost all major political parties. But the reality is that there is only a limited budget.

Alderman Marja Ruigrok of Traffic & Transport: “The extension of the North/South Line can only proceed if the new cabinet restores the 1.8 billion euro shortfall that was removed by the government in 2023. Extending the North/South Line is not a luxury but a pure necessity. Further delay means postponement of housing construction, extra pressure on the already overloaded railway around Schiphol, and is bad for the economy. That shovel must hit the ground, and preferably as soon as possible!”