A part of the Maastricht-Hasselt railway (Line 20) between Maastricht and Lanaken was already closed down in 1990. Between Lanaken and Beverst in 1992. However the trace was preserved against the wishes of the NMBS and the NS. In the coming years after much tug of war between the local and the national authorities the section between Maastricht and Lanaken wil be revitalized anyways. The official starting signal was given on 17 Sept 2007 by the dutch minister of transport Eurlings in the presence of the flamish minister Keulen. The line has to be operable again in 2009.
Maastricht Station
To be able to absorb the expected rise in freight traffic on the railway yard of Maastricht station, beyond the budget of the freightline some measures are being taken. The line-up tracks next to the maintainance workshop are being cleaned up and are being supplied with overhead wiring, so locomotives can park here without the help of shunters. This leaves space on the rest of the yard.
January 2008 one started with the sanitation of the yard. Rails and sleepers were completely removed.
( 17 Jan 2008 )
The pylons have been placed.
( 31 March 2008 )
The works are being executed by BAM Rail and Movares/Grontmij Maunsell.
( 31 March 2008 )
The works seen from the Noorderbrug.
( 31 March 2008 )
The old polluted soil has been replaced with a fresh upper layer.
( 8 May 2008 )
A fresh layer of road metal has been applied and the new sleepers and buffers are waiting to be handled.
( 23 May 2008 )
Overview of the works.
( 23 May 2008 )
The rails have been placed back again.
( 8 June 2008 )
Overview of the works.
( 8 June 2008 )
In the mean time new road metal has been shuffled between the new rails.
( 10 June 2008 )
Overview of the works from the Noorder bridge.
( 10 June 2008 )
Update 14 Juli 2008
The overhead wires are now suspended, only the new buffers still have to be placed.
( 14 July 2008 )
Overhead wire car.
( 14 July 2008 )
Between the tracks asphalted platforms are built.
( Aug 31 2008 )
Overview from the Noorderbrug.
( Aug 31 2008 )
Update 4 Okt 2008
The new buffers have been placed now and the first commuter trains are waiting for a inner cleaning job.
( 4 Oct 2008 )
Overview from the Noorderbrug. Job done ?
( 4 Oct 2008 )
Bridgehead right bank.
In the mean time the approach to the railway bridge got a new layer of road metal.
Pay attention to the extension track in front!
( 14 July 2008 )
This extension track is now completely removed complete with the overhead pylons !
( 31 Aug 2008 )
View from the bridgehead in direction of the station.
( 31 Aug 2008 )
View on the railway bridge.
( 31 Aug 2008 )
On the freshly painted bridge new open steel sheets are attached.
( 31 Aug 2008 )
Update 4 Oct 2008
In the mean time the bridge is unwrapped and the scaffolding is waiting on carts to be transported.
( 4 Oct 2008 )
The railway bridge across the Maas
As the railroad Maastricht-Hasselt was built in 1856 the connection was a single track. The original bridge across the Maas was designed for two lanes. When it became evident that there was no use for a second lane, in 1922 a pedestrian bridge was built next to the railway bridge. The railway bridge existed out of two ornamental towers connected by steel roadways, the last mentioned were built on the wharf of Cockerill in Seraing (B) and transported to Maastricht by boat. A real hard job in those days!
In 1940 the dutch army decided to demolish part of the bridge. The german occupier could repair it without a problem. In 1944 the Allies tried to bomb the bridge from the air, which failed and caused at least 90 deads under the civil population. The germans did it themselves a few weeks later thoroughly and they destroyed the whole bridge under the waterline. The american engineers built a temporary bridge that was in use until October 1957 when the new arch bridge got ready. With that the present bridge is again a respectable 50 years old !
According the plan the bridge will be sandblasted and newly painted. The hydraulic segment of the bridge on the side of the city will be repaired and in future it can be operated from a distance.
The railway bridge seen from the right riverbank.
5 June 2005
On the railway bridge a workshed was built. On the one side to be able to work dry and safe, on the other side to prevent spilling rubble on the road and in a later stage in the Maas.
31 March 2008
The part of the bridge above the road is ready and a crane moves the work shed one segment further.
27 April 2008
One has started to build scaffolding in and around the archsection of the briddge.
6 May 2008
The progress a week later.
14 May 2008
The scaffolding is almost ready. The work shed has moved on to a next segment.
17 May 2008
Ten days later the bridge is covered with canvas.
27 May 2008
When evening falls the sides are covered also. It looks like the artist Christo came by !
27 May 2008
The down part of the work shed has been moved under the arch of the bridge, the grafity is will be from the past!
21 June 2008
The work shed has been moved again one segment.
14 July 2008
The work shed now hangs under the last part of the arch.
31 Aug 2008
Update 16 Oct 2008
The complete workshed now at the westside of the bridge.
16 Oct 2008
Detail of the downside of the newly painted bridge.
4 Oct 2008
The last part of the bridge at the left bank is being handled.
14 Nov 2008
The lifting bridge is still up. As long as the pumps are not repaired, the bridge will not be passable for the maintainance and grinding machines.
14 Nov 2008
As shown here there is not much oil left in the hydraulic installation.
14 Nov 2008
The bridgemans lodge is under repair.
(will be followed up)
26 Feb 2009
Recommended website
when you are interested in
background:
VIEV
H.J.Vos
2002/2009
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