The Betuwe freight-only railway line is still only being used by test trains, over six weeks since its official opening by queen Beatrix, operating company Railon admitted on Wednesday.

According to the official planning, 24 cargo trains should now be using the track, which runs from Rotterdam port to the German border, every day. The railway was built at a cost of €4.7bn.
Commercial operations have been halted because of problems with the safety system, Railon said. Test trains were taking 3.5 hours to cover 100 kilometres – a journey which should take one hour, the spokesman said.
The Volkskrant newspaper reported that work on the German side of the track has not yet been completed either. The paper also said that Railon does not yet have the right locomotives to use the railway and the transport of dangerous goods and chemicals is still banned pending a fire brigade report.