News

Amsterdam Centraal Station has second major bridge replacement thanks to Mammoet

Mammoet has completed the second of five bridge replacements at Amsterdam Centraal Station as part of the High-Frequency Rail Transport (PHS) programme, which is upgrading the station to accommodate more rail services in the future.

Working alongside contractor Dura Vermeer, Mammoet was responsible for the transport, load-out and installation of three steel bridge sections manufactured by Hollandia Infra. The new bridge comprises two 28.5m-long, 275t outer sections and a 21m, 175t centre span.

With the station remaining fully operational in the centre of one of Europe's busiest cities, transporting the bridge sections presented a significant logistical challenge. Mammoet opted to deliver the components by barge rather than road, reducing disruption to the surrounding area.

The bridge sections were brought to the Oostertoegang side of the station on flat-top barges, which were partially submerged to pass beneath a low footbridge before reaching the installation point. Once in position, the sections were rotated through 90 degrees using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) before being lifted into place.

Unlike the first bridge replacement, completed in 2025 using Mammoet's Mega Jack 300 system, the second installation required a different approach because of restricted working space between the existing bridges and the bridge installed last year.

Project manager Leo de Vette explained: "This time we were working between two bridges, so we had to account for both the existing structures and the new bridge installed last year. The bridge sections had to be manoeuvred underneath these structures before being lifted into position using a four-point lifting system assembled on the quayside."

The four-point hydraulic lifting system allowed all four cylinders to lift at the same speed while also providing the flexibility to reposition them as required during the operation.

Installing the centre span required a staged process. After being floated into position and rotated, the section was lifted onto temporary supports spanning the two outer bridge sections. Once the permanent central support column had been constructed beneath it, Mammoet returned to lower the span into its final position.

The work forms part of ProRail's wider PHS programme, which includes track improvements, infrastructure upgrades and civil engineering works throughout Amsterdam Centraal Station to increase network capacity. Mammoet is scheduled to replace the remaining three bridges as the multi-year project continues.