Commissioned by U.S. corporation General Electric (GE), ARCADIS is currently designing and testing the safety system and managing the migration from an old to new safety network for the Rotterdam Subway system. The project, which will likely run until 2014, represents the first time in European history that an entire subway safety system will be replaced. As other European cities look at ways to upgrade their existing infrastructure, this project will provide a crucial model for effective public transit modernization.

Working closely with GE, which will deliver the software and installation, ARCADIS will deliver services to 47 stations, around 55km of double track rail lines and the 88 million passengers who utilize the subway system per year. The team will use an existing and proven cost-effective and reliable technology; and will continuously test all components before the rail line is put back into operation. The design will enable all work to be carried out at night so that the subway system can remain operational throughout the complex upgrade.