A Main Network for the Transport of Hazardous Substances

The carriage of dangerous goods becomes increasingly troublesome. Building activities near roads, waterways and railways as well as a strong increase in the transport of hazardous substances tend to result in a growing number of bottlenecks related to safety and spatial development. In order to keep the transport of hazardous substances, such as sulphur dioxide and petrol, feasible in the future, the Dutch Cabinet would like to regulate the transport of such materials by developing a main network for the transport of hazardous substances.

Main Network
The Main Network for the Transport of Hazardous Substances divides all the major inland waterways, national roads and railways in the Netherlands into categories. Each category shows the extent to which limitations on transport and/or spatial development apply. That is how transport companies are perfectly acquainted with the routes they can use for carrying their goods. The Main Network also sets rules with regard to the establishment of new zoning plans for areas surrounding roads, inland waterways and railways. It is prohibited, for instance, to build residential areas, hospitals or large office blocks within designated safety zones.

Incidents
In 2007 the working group Incident Management on Dangerous Goods Transport was set up at the initiative of civil emergency services, companies and authorities. The aim of the working group is to prevent and combat accidents in dangerous goods transport. For instance, the working group has committed itself to improving the communication in case of transport accidents involving dangerous goods. Emergency service providers have to be informed adequately in time. In the first half of 2009 the working group will issue a working plan for the period from 2009 until 2012.

Ammonia
The Cabinet seeks to discontinue a number of existing rail transports of chlorine and ammonia. Moreover, the Cabinet would like to limit the creation of new transport flows of these substances. Meanwhile, the authorities have entered into agreements with several companies to reduce chlorine and ammonia transports. Such an agreement was reached with DSM Agro bv, for instance, a Dutch chemicals company that will discontinue its transports by rail of chlorine from Geleen in the South-East of the Netherlands to IJmuiden in the West of the country by December 2009 at the latest.

Europe
In June 2008 Mr Camiel Eurlings, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management promised the House of Representatives that he would ask a few colleagues from other European countries if they were willing to support the development of a new hazardous substances labelling policy. Subsequently, Germany, Belgium, the UK and France were consulted, but these countries did not show any interest. Next year, the minister will further elaborate the national communication strategy on the carriage of dangerous goods.