Train modernisation in Haarlem
NS has a long history in train modernisation (NSTM). Since 1839, we have been working on updating our trains. To secure NS’s continuity as a company and employer in the region, we are redesigning the Train Modernisation site to prepare for the future. Our ambition is to reduce natural gas use by 80 per cent by 2030 and to completely eliminate gas use across the entire NSTM workshop.
Redesign of NS train modernisation site
Several projects are currently underway at the NS Train Modernisation site to make the area and its buildings more sustainable, update facilities, and redesign the site. These include:
- New Train Set Hall
- New Building for Bogie Overhaul
- Sustainability
Redesign of the NS train modernisation Site
1.New Train Set Hall
Since mid-2023, significant work has been progressing on the construction of the new Train Set Hall within NSTM. The project began with the sustainable dismantling of building 20, the former ‘lighterij’, and the installation of service tracks. The construction site was cleared by removing old tracks and relocating the environmental yard.
In 2024, key progress was made by installing sheet piling around the construction site and placing foundation piles. A vibration-free method was chosen deliberately to protect homes along the Amsterdamsevaart, considering the soft peat soil in the area.
The new train set hall is designed as a multifunctional complex comprising two parts: an office building and a hall with four tracks. The office building will accommodate around 180 workspaces over two floors and offer various facilities for employees. The hall will include four tracks, one specifically for quick overhauls of train sets, equipped with continuous gantries and lifting jacks for efficient maintenance. Completion is scheduled for spring 2026.
2. New Building for Bogie Overhaul
Located at the corner of the Amsterdamsevaart and Gedempte Oostersingelgracht, the first part of the Bogie Overhaul building was completed in 2018, with a second section added in 2025. These buildings feature distinctive corten steel façades, and the newest section includes wooden slats, creating a calm, artisanal appearance. These halls prepare the Bogie Overhaul department for the future.
3. Sustainability
NS places great importance on sustainability, not only in modernising trains but also in constructing our buildings.
Heat and cold storage (WKO)
Looking ahead, NS has set an ambitious goal to greatly reduce natural gas use by 2030 and eventually eliminate it entirely at the NSTM workshop. To achieve this, a heat and cold storage system (WKO) is being installed at the NSTM site.
Heat and cold storage uses geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings in an environmentally friendly way. Here is how it works: cold water is pumped from the ground to cool buildings more efficiently during warmer periods. At the same time, excess heat from the buildings is returned to the ground, where it is stored for use in heating the facilities during winter.
The WKO system consists of two warm sources and two cold sources connected by a central pipeline running throughout the site. Heat pumps extract or supply energy to this central pipeline, which distributes it to the various workshop buildings. The system is now operational, and more buildings will be connected over time, significantly reducing gas consumption.
Soil remediation and landscaping
Due to soil remediation, some trees along the Amsterdamsevaart have been felled. Excavation near the trees affected their root structures, increasing the risk that they could fall towards the Amsterdamsevaart during storms. Tree assessments showed that most trees could be preserved by pollarding. Where trees could not be saved, NS will meet its replanting obligations in consultation with the Municipality of Haarlem. These 33 trees will be planted on site in autumn 2026. In addition, NS will green several areas with perennial plants, enhancing biodiversity on the site and creating a more pleasant environment for employees.