Optimise material use
We take great care of our materials by focusing on proper maintenance, repairs and extending their lifespan. After around 20 years, all VIRM double-deck trains have been modernised. During this process, 86% of the parts were refurbished and reused in the trains, while 13% found a second life elsewhere. This means we reuse 99% of the materials, keeping 40 million kilos of valuable materials in circulation.
Renovating train sets involves using a lot of plastic. To reduce this, NS employee Jeroen came up with a brilliant idea.
We expect to dismantle and recycle a thousand train sets by 2028, amounting to around 57.6 million kilos of valuable raw materials. The lessons and experience we gain from modernisation and dismantling are incorporated into the specifications for new trains, which are continually arriving. Together, we are working towards our ambition: 100% circular trains.