On January 30, he presented his advice at a conference about the Lelylijn in The Hague. Last September, Knot was asked to map out the financial-economic possibilities and impossibilities of the Lelylijn. In the report he presented, he states that there are good possibilities.

Shovel in the ground

The government must abandon the usual approach to infrastructure construction. The core of that usual approach is a cost-benefit analysis and the requirement that 75 percent of the financing must be secured early in the preparation. This has so far prevented the construction of the Lelylijn from progressing.

Knot has another idea. Since the first shovel will probably not go into the ground before 2040, it is quite possible to save. Four hundred million per year is 0.04 percent of the gross national product.

This savings plan provides the certainty to continue preparing the construction and fits within the governments financial rules. The Lelylijn can then be operational by 2050.

Costs before benefits

Knot points out that the Netherlands has done this before. For the Afsluitdijk, the two polders in the IJsselmeer, and the Delta Works, costs preceded benefits.

The Lelylijn, as a fast railway through Groningen, Fryslân, and Flevoland to the rest of the Netherlands, has a major impact on the future opportunities of people in our regions. Travel times become shorter, labor markets grow closer together, there is space for housing, and northern talent can better develop. The Lelylijn directs the development of the entire Netherlands.

Separate fund

In his advice, Knol assumes that the region, possibly with private funds and a contribution from Europe, will cover ten percent of the costs. He proposes putting the savings in a separate fund, jointly managed by the government and the region.

This prevents the fund from being emptied by future cabinets for other priorities. Conversely, the region is restrained from always choosing the most expensive solution in complicated sections where the railway must pass through vulnerable areas.

Download and read the report ( PDF file, 305 KB)