Mott MacDonald and Baca Architects submit Dutch rail scheme plans

A consortium led by Mott MacDonald and including Baca Architects has put forward initial proposals for a major railway connection in the Netherlands.

The M55 consortium, working on behalf of operating company Werkmaatschappij Almere-Amsterdam (WAA), has submitted a feasibility study on the project, which would connectAmsterdam-South and Almere-South Centre through the IJmeer lake and support the 25,000 new homes planned at Almere.

The proposal comprises a 20km-long connection from Diemen-Zuid to Almere Centrum, including a 9 km tunnel under IJburg and IJmeer and five new stations one of which is set within a new canal and will provide facilities for boats to moor alongside, creating the world’s first ‘sail-and-ride station’.

The material excavated from the construction of the new tunnel will be used to create a new 3,000 home island north of Pampus and a series of sand dunes and ‘shallows’ on the coast for recreation and wildlife.

The island is intended as a sustainable pilot with an off grid and off mains water supply, renewable power, rain water harvesting and recycling.

Project manager at Mott Macdonald Martijn Donders said: “We have developed a strong business case for the new rail link. The project is attracting intense public and political interest and our proposal is extremely strong on crucial issues such as environmental impact, ease of use and integration into the urban landscape, and the economic benefit.”

Robert Barker, project architect at Baca Architect’s added: “We have developed integrated landscape, architecture and public realm proposals along various sensitive waterside settings and tunnel portals. In addition we have developed spatial concepts for new homes in Alemere Pampus and Pampus Island, and provided the designs for the sail-and-ride-station.”