Belgian network almost fully electrified with new link to the Netherlands
A new electrified rail freight line between Genk in Belgium and Bilzen in the south of the Netherlands was opened yesterday, 28 March. The new line came with an investment of 20 million euros, part...Read more
Lineas discrimated in train path allocation at Dutch shunting yards
Lineas was discriminated in the allocation of train paths at two emplacement yards in the Netherlands. This was concluded by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets after the Belgian railway undertaking had submitted complaints...Read more
MSC establishes Medway Belgium to expand rail freight in northern Europe
Shipping giant MSC has started a recruitment campaign for a new railway company in Belgium under the name Medway. In Portugal, Spain and Italy, MSC has been operating its own trains under the Medway label...Read more
Port of Antwerp connects with Switzerland through Athus terminal
A new intermodal connection is in the pipeline to link the Belgian Port of Antwerp with the Birsterminal in the Rhine port Birsfelden, Switzerland. The intermodal route will pass through Terminal Container Athus in southern...Read more
33,5 million euros investment aims to make the North Sea Port a rail hub
The Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel and the Belgian government will invest an additional 33,5 million euros in the Ghent part of North Sea Port in the coming years. The plans foresee the addition of new...Read more
Belgium grants additional 357 million for rail, mostly benefitting freight
The Belgian government is making another 357 million euros available for the modernisation of the railway network, a fund that primarily serves to support freight rail transport. This is according to the infrastructure manager Infrabel.Read more
Lost your trampoline? This rail manager may have found it
After three successive storms raging over the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, the railway tracks were all but accessible. Fallen trees were the most common object obstructing passage on the railway lines, but there were many...Read more
Storm damage and new wind gusts: rail freight not back to normal yet
After three storms and a persistently strong wind on Monday, railway lines in the Benelux region are still impacted by the bad weather. The complete standstill that was the case in most regions on Friday...Read more
Direct connection between port of Zeebrugge and Marseille on the works
The port of Zeebrugge aims to expand its inland connections to France. A new direct rail freight connection to Marseille in the country’s southern end is currently under serious consideration.Read more
Belgian railways receive additional 250 million support
The Belgian coalition government reached a budget agreement last week. Railways receive 250 million extra in the next three years. Most of this will be invested in infrastructure, to further develop rail freight transport. Read moreNorth Sea Port maps out rail freight needs with Infrabel
North Sea Port and Infrabel are jointly launching Railconnect, a port rail team with representatives from both to encourage more use of rail. The port currently knows a modal split of 10 per cent for...Read moreBelgian minister wants ease of state aid rules for European rail
Belgian mobility minister Georges Gilkinet has asked Europe to ease state aid rules for rail transport, both for freight and for international passenger transport, including night trains. He made his plea during a meeting of...Read more
Rail freight industry Belgium presents Rail Roadmap 2030
More than twenty organisations in Belgium, including the Flemish ports, Infrabel and VBO, have presented the Rail Roadmap 2030. In this document they indicate which steps must be taken to enable a doubling of rail...Read morePort of Zeebrugge wants to become a rail freight hub
The port of Zeebrugge aims to make rail freight the primary mode for its inland transport operations. The Belgian port has a clear focus: it wants rail to handle 20 per cent of its cargo...Read more
North Sea – Mediterranean corridor operational again
The North Sea – Mediterranean rail freight corridor is open again for trains as of this morning (Monday, 16 August). The corridor was closed for weeks due to damage that occurred on its Belgian section...Read more
Lines restoration Belgium: four more routes operational
The race to restore Belgium’s southern railway network after the destructive floods is ongoing. On Monday, 2 August, four more lines returned to operations: Liege-Bomal, Gembloux-Auvelais, Sint-Joris-Weert-Ottignies and Ottignies-Wavre.Read more
Direct Vietnam-Belgium train promises to become regular
The first direct rail freight connection between Vietnam and Belgium is a fact. The train already made two departures on 20 and 27 July, while the third is scheduled for 3 August. Parties involved in...Read more
Northern France railway reopening offers an alternative to North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor
The Artère Nord Est, a rail connection in northern France, is operational again. The connection is part of the North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor in France and offers alternatives for Belgian rail transport between the Flemish seaports...Read more
Belgium: more lines reopen, serious problems still occurring
The rail connections between Gembloux and Namur and Pepinster and Welkenraedt are open again as of the morning of 26 July. The line restoration and reopening go according to Infrabel’s plan despite the continuously occurring...Read more