Boskalis Moves Historic Vught Railway Station 13.6 Metres to Clear Way for Rail Upgrade

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

VUGHT, Netherlands, November 2, 2026 — Boskalis Nederland and its project partners have completed the relocation of Vught’s historic railway station building, moving the protected national monument 13.6 metres on October 30 to make way for a new lowered railway alignment.

The operation involved moving the entire station building, including its basement, while preserving the structure for future generations. The relocation forms part of the Vught Verdiept railway infrastructure project, which is designed to accommodate a new railway alignment below ground level.

More than 4,000 spectators gathered to watch the operation, highlighting the public interest in preserving the historic building while modernising the town’s railway infrastructure.

The relocation presented an unusual infrastructure challenge. Rather than demolishing the existing station building or constructing the railway around its original position, the project partners moved the protected structure to a new location.

The building’s national monument status made preservation an important consideration in the construction programme.

Moving a complete building is considerably different from transporting conventional heavy cargo. The structure must remain supported throughout the operation, while the loads imposed on its walls, foundations and basement need to be carefully managed.

In Vught, the entire station building, including its basement, was relocated as one structure over a distance of 13.6 metres.

The operation illustrates how specialist structural moving techniques can support major infrastructure projects where existing buildings must be retained.

The work was carried out within Alliantie Vught Verdiept, involving several organisations responsible for the railway infrastructure programme and the building relocation.

The participating organisations include ProRail, Van Hattum en Blankevoort, BRESSER, a specialist in lifting, foundations and structural relocation, and the Municipality of Vught.

The operation required coordination between the infrastructure construction activities and the preservation requirements of the historic station.

For contractors involved in heavy transport and project logistics, the relocation demonstrates a specialised application of load handling and structural movement within an active infrastructure development programme.

Unlike conventional project cargo movements, where equipment is transported between loading and delivery locations, structural relocation requires an existing building to be moved while maintaining its integrity.

The station relocation is linked to the construction of the new lowered railway section through Vught.

By moving the historic building 13.6 metres, the project creates the space required for the railway works while allowing the station to remain part of the town’s built heritage.

The October 30 operation marks a completed stage in the wider infrastructure programme, although the relocation itself does not represent completion of the railway upgrade.

Boskalis confirmed that more than 4,000 people attended the event, which brought together the construction teams, project partners and local community to witness the movement of the protected station building.