The Dutch Defence Ministry plans to purchase train carriages and convert them into mobile hospitals capable of transporting large numbers of wounded soldiers, State Secretary Gijs Tuinman has informed parliament.
The so-called "gewondentreinen" or casualty trains would be used to repatriate injured Dutch military personnel in the event of a large-scale armed conflict, according to a letter sent to the Tweede Kamer on Wednesday. The acquisition forms part of a broader programme called "Versterken geneeskundige keten" (Strengthening the medical chain), through which the ministry is investing in additional treatment and transport capacity.
Currently, wounded soldiers are evacuated using ambulances, helicopters and transport aircraft. But in a major conflict, casualties could mount so quickly that existing capacity would be insufficient, the ministry said. Air superiority cannot be guaranteed in such scenarios, making rail transport a relatively safe alternative that could increase the survival chances of wounded personnel.
Technical requirements
The trains must be capable of operating on railway networks in multiple countries and must be able to run on diesel power if the electricity supply is disrupted. Some of the purchased carriages will be dismantled to provide spare parts.
The ministry said it would purchase Dutch trains and that the conversion work would also be carried out in the Netherlands. From 2027, the Defence organisation will also have access to the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, which will replace the current C-130 for long-distance medical evacuation to facilities such as the calamity hospital.
Talks with NS
The Defence Ministry has been in discussions with NS about acquiring old ICR intercity carriages that are being phased out as the railway company introduces new ICNG trains. More than 100 ICR carriages have already been taken out of service.
NS confirmed the talks are ongoing. A spokesperson told media that NS is always willing to help Defence explore possibilities when approached. The initial plan involves 24 carriages, though this number could be expanded.
Photo Credits: Netherlands Ministry of Defence
Cold War precedent
Ambulance trains are not a new concept for the Dutch military. During the Cold War in the 1980s, the armed forces had specially converted intercity carriages capable of transporting hundreds of wounded soldiers. In 1985 and 1986, the military converted Plan W and ICR carriages into ambulance trains for exercises including Many Way and Combi Care III. A dedicated unit, the 761st Ambulance Train Company, was established to operate them.
Commander of the Armed Forces General Onno Eichelsheim referenced these Cold War-era trains at a meeting with hospitals and emergency services in late 2024. "It could well be that, alongside more civil-military cooperation, we will see those ambulance trains return to the tracks in the foreseeable future," he said.
Part of broader military logistics strategy
The casualty trains are part of a wider effort by the Defence Ministry to expand military logistics capacity. The ministry has established what it calls an "Ecosysteem Logistiek" (Logistics Ecosystem), bringing together hundreds of transport, storage and service companies that could be mobilised in a crisis.
The system is built around four pillars: transport, storage, transhipment and facilities. For each component, Defence aims to secure at least two partner companies, ultimately involving hundreds of businesses in crisis infrastructure. Reservists from KLM and numerous transport companies are also part of the strategic plan.
The announcement comes as State Secretary Tuinman, who is in his final week in office following the fall of the Schoof government, continues to push through defence acquisitions. On the same day, he also informed parliament of plans to install additional radar systems on the North Sea to detect suspicious vessels and drones, and to acquire heavy recovery vehicles for the army.
