THE Dutch Ministry of Defence is considering purchasing coaches for conversion into mobile military hospitals. The ministry is understood to be in discussions with Netherlands Railways (NS) over acquiring up to 24 type ICRm coaches.
Built by Talbot in Aachen, Germany, in the early 1980s, the last of these are operating inter-city services between Den Haag Central and Eindhoven Central. However, the coaches do not have International Coach Regulations (RIC) certification and most are no longer authorised to operate in Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
The move is part of a European Union (EU)-wide push to make greater use of rail for military transport. The Royal Netherlands Army has increased its fleet of type Laads flat wagons built by Greenbrier, a twin-axle design for carrying light road vehicles. Now the Dutch military is aiming to collaborate with civilian logistics and transport companies to enable rapid deployment of military equipment by rail when required.
