DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SAFETY PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICAL APPROACH

This article describes the safety strategy as part of the development of the Betuweroute, a double track freight railway linking the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, with the heart of Europe. The railway is to be put into service in 2005. The route has five tunnels and a covered section, and studies are being done to analyse the potential cause of accidents, particularly those involving fire, in tunnels. A safety policy has objectives of maintaining the availability of the tunnel and railway line, ensuring rescue of people, and preventing environmental damage. Scenarios involving collision/derailment, or fire, are considered.