Schultz: “Problems HSL could have been solved – Financieele Dagblad (Registration)

The State and the Dutch Railways were able to solve the problems at the HSL Zuid much earlier. The Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen said Friday in parliamentary Fyra survey. This expressed the minister implicitly criticized her three predecessors in the ministry, namely Camiel Eurlings, Karla Peijs and Tineke Netelenbos.

Minister Melanie Schultz of Infrastructure and the Environment will appear Friday before the parliamentary inquiry commission

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NS subsidiary High Speed ​​Alliance (HSA) landed in 2011 on the brink of bankruptcy because the NS had to pay an excessively high annual fee to drive on the HSL South. The NS had the high bid made in 2001 to ensure that the HSL concession would bring in. In addition to its rail company assumed that the cost left or right would still recovering from its shareholder, the Dutch State.

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Schultz van Haegen saved the HSA in 2011, shortly after taking office from bankruptcy by the annual user charge the NS subsidiary had to pay to reduce. They also added the high-speed line to the main rail. When looking for a solution to the problems with the HSA Schultz van Haegen also spoke with the British rail company Virgin. However, just wanted HSL drive a fee, rather it would pay the state for this purpose.

had According to the minister NS and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to bridge their differences much earlier to arrive at a solution of the problems. “From 2002, there were already signs that the business case would not be met because the estimated revenues and expenses were not in line. Then you have rather to the table to solve it. ” In her interview, the minister called the NS 2001 bid ‘unreal’.

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During the hearing also discussed the difficult cooperation with the Belgian state and the Belgian railway company SNCB, with whom the NS jointly ordered high-speed trains the Italian manufacturer Ansaldo Breda. Despite repeated attempts, the minister managed to get in touch with its Belgian counterpart, Paul Magnette, which was between 2011 and 2013 Minister of Public Enterprises. Schultz said she “months” has been trying to reach Magnette, first through official channels, and later she spoke even voice mail on his 06 number. Finally she got to speak only the Belgian minister after mediation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “I’ve never seen anything like it and hope never to experience,” Schultz van Haegen said about it.

Earlier in the day apologized to the former president of the board of the NS, Wim Meijer, up for the fiasco with the Fyra. “We are seriously failed to realize what was in prospect ‘, as suggested Meyer, who was from 2002 to 2013 Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the conclusion of his trial. “It fit apologize for what happened. That is not right and we should learn from that. ” Meijer is the first witness at the Fyra survey apologized pronounce.