Oostertoegang Amsterdam: Replacement of historic railway bridges

ProRail has commissioned the replacement of four steel bridges and one concrete railway bridge on the eastern side of Amsterdam Central Station. Dura Vermeer commissioned Iv to provide the integral design of these five bridges. Four of the five bridges, which are more than 100 years old, will receive entirely new pillars, abutments, and foundations. The fifth bridge will retain its existing abutment. Each bridge comprises three sections supported by concrete pillars and abutments.

The renovation project of the historic railway bridges presents various challenges, mainly due to the use of existing stamped concrete, which presented uncertainties in terms of cohesion and stiffness. A specific challenge in the project is related to the fifth bridge, where the existing abutments and foundations, initially designed according to early 1990s standards, had to be reassessed to comply with current Eurocodes. In addition, there were also technical challenges in connecting the steel bridges, such as controlling deformations and deflections between different components.

A significant part of the renovation involved the longitudinal force analysis. This analysis demonstrated the design’s safety and served as a tool to optimise the support points. This approach reduced the number of piles required, leading to cost savings and increased sustainability. The renovation of the station and the adaptation of the infrastructure are necessary to accommodate more trains and to cope with the increase in passengers by 2030.