Rail Vulnerable to Sabotage and Cyber Attacks

Increasing geopolitical tensions and growing cyber threats are putting the safety of our vital infrastructure under pressure. Recent incidents in Europe show that the threats are real. The Netherlands must quickly strengthen its resilience to prevent social and economic damage. A strong, well-connected, and protected rail system is essential. Therefore, Secretary of State Aartsen, together with ProRail, has asked the OFL to conduct an analysis of the vulnerability of our rail system. This was the first study from the newly established Resilience Table this year.

In the advisory report - Time to Act - Van der Maat concludes that the rail system has been designed for efficiency and punctuality for years, but is insufficiently prepared for sabotage and cyber attacks. The current policy assumes occasional, non-deliberate disruptions due to, for example, bad weather. However, that assumption is a thing of the past. The reality of today requires a new premise: a rail system that is not only efficient and punctual but above all robust and resilient to hybrid threats.

The Netherlands is also unable to meet its NATO obligations for military transport. One very large military train, for which the adjacent track must remain clear, can disrupt regular traffic on a certain track for up to three hours. With multiple military trains per day, civil rail transport comes to a near standstill, with significant consequences for the economy and society. The current capacity is too limited to accommodate the expected growth in military transport.

According to Van der Maat, action is necessary now. Delaying increases our vulnerability. Strengthening safety and defense also provides the opportunity to structurally strengthen the rail system. Therefore, extra investments are inevitable. Van der Maat recommends a starter package of at least €600 million for three types of measures:

• Enhancing security: better access management, smart detection systems, monitoring of digital systems, and additional anti-drone measures at critical locations.
• Strengthening continuity: mobile emergency systems for rapid resumption of train traffic, more spare parts, sufficient recovery capacity, and protocols for large-scale incidents.
• Increasing military capacity: more shunting space in port areas, longer tracks for 740-meter trains, removing obstacles along the tracks, and more efficient border crossings.

Christophe van der Maat, chairman OFL: “The hybrid threats Europe faces will not disappear anytime soon. It is not a question of if, but when we will face sabotage of our vital infrastructure. Threats are only becoming more complex and impactful. Waiting is therefore not an option. Our call is crystal clear: invest NOW in the resilience and military mobility of the rail system. Because a society that lets its railways stand still also jeopardizes its safety and freedom.”

Secretary of State Aartsen endorses the advisory report: “The world around us is changing rapidly, and that calls for action. A strong, well-connected, and safe rail system is essential for our national and international security. This requires investments in security, recovery capacity, and military transport capacity. Both the sector and the government must now work together and take steps. This may mean that travelers are sometimes delayed, but in the current geopolitical climate, we cannot afford to lose time. With a strong and resilient rail system, we increase our safety, availability, and reliability. Resilience is not just a task for Defense; it is a shared responsibility for all of us.”

Many measures strengthen not only military capabilities but also our society and economy. Thus, it cuts both ways. Investments in longer trains, more shunting capacity, and greater reliability also benefit regular goods and passenger transport.
 

John Voppen (CEO ProRail): “The rail system is strategically very important. Therefore, we must focus on increasing its resilience. Especially now that there is a threat and we must be able to respond quickly. Think of transports, but also of securing and quickly repairing damage. And a robust rail system is also immediately relevant for passenger and freight trains.”

Aartsen writes in his letter to the House that despite the caretaker status of the cabinet, he is directly addressing a large part of the OFLs recommendations, together with ProRail and carriers. He wants to ensure priority for defense on the rail and that trains do not stop at the border due to paperwork. His ministry is also working with Defense and ProRail to simulate military transports to identify and improve bottlenecks. Furthermore, a joint resilience strategy is being developed with ProRail to make the rail system more resilient to hybrid threats.

It is up to the next cabinet to make definitive choices about the start budget of €600 million. Early next year, the House will be informed about how the recommendations have been followed up.