Belgium-Germany: estimated costs for flood damage repairs reach billions
Belgium and Germany are heavily impacted by the floods that took place last week. Their rail networks have suffered substantial damage that will need time and high costs to be repaired. In Belgium, these costs...Read more
Floods: long way to fully restore rail freight traffic
Following last week’s severe floods in Belgium, southern Netherlands and western Germany, rail freight in these regions has been impaired for the most part. High water levels and damages are still insisting. However, the infrastructure...Read more
Update: Montzen route reopens, south of Belgium remains flooded
The Montzen route, one of the routes that connects the Flemish seaports in Belgium with Germany, was opened up again for freight trains on Friday afternoon, after it was closed due to flooding. Rail freight...Read more
Flood update – rail freight in northwest Germany paralysed
The floods deluging western and central Europe have impaired much of the rail infrastructure in Belgium while also causing problems in the Netherlands. Germany is not to be left out of the country list facing...Read more
Railway lines Belgium flooded, repair could take weeks
Rail freight traffic in the southern part of Belgium is severely impacted by heavy rainfall. Railway lines are flooded, and sometimes completely washed away. The damage on the tracks is considerable, and it will take...Read moreFloods in Western-Europe: these railway lines are affected
Floods in western Europe are disrupting several cross-border railway lines. The areas most affected are the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. This is an update of the situation on Thursday afternoon.Read more
Iron Rhine or 3RX drafts to be dusted off…again
There will be a new study this fall into the feasibility of the Rhein-Ruhr-Rail Connection, also known as 3RX. The Belgian Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet, reiterated that this week during a committee meeting of...Read more
Infrabel renews tracks in Leuven for longer trains
Infrabel, Belgium’s infrastructure manager, is implementing a renewal project on the tracks of the Bundle M station at Leuven. The works include the reconstruction of rail tracks that will reach lengths up to 750 metres....Read more
Lineas expands services from the North Sea Port with connection to Milano
Lineas has a new addition to its Green Xpress Network. The company will connect the North Sea Port and Ghent directly to the Intermodale Milano Segrate terminal in Northern Italy. The new train service will...Read more
Alstom to equip DB Cargo freight locomotive with ETCS
Alstom has signed an agreement to equip one of DB Cargo’s freight locomotives with ETCS signaling technology. As part of this project, subsidised by the CEF and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, a...Read more
Belgium sets aside 365 million euros for ‘long neglected’ railways
The Belgian government will invest at least 365 million euros in railways during the coming years. Railways have been “neglected for too long” in Belgium, and the specific investment will play a critical role in...Read more
Port of Antwerp and Infrabel announce their shared rail vision
The Port of Antwerp, Infrabel and Railport announced their joint plans to grow the port’s share of goods transported by rail. The following decade, until 2030, constitutes the timeframe in which the three companies will...Read more
Why rail could do more at North Sea Port
Ever since MSC announced to open a depot at North Sea Port, the phone has been ringing non-stop at Vlaeynatie, the company that is to facilitate the depot at Terneuzen. “Other shipping companies are now...Read more
In RailFreight Live this week: the Belgium edition
Ever since MSC has announced to open a depot at North Sea Port, the phone has been ringing non-stop at Vlaeynatie, the company that is to facilitate the depot at Terneuzen. Other shipping companies are...Read more
Belgium reduces track access charges until end of June 2021
The Belgian government has announced to financially support the rail freight industry. Until 30 June, a reduced tariff applies for freight trains, and cancellation and reservation costs are waived. The support scheme applies from 1...Read moreMore joint developments in the North Sea Port
After the EU Commission decided to include the North Sea Port in the North Sea-Baltic corridor, Belgium, Flanders, and the Netherlands came together to seal the deal and explore the possibilities of the latest development....Read more
Railway plans for Antwerp and Zeebrugge still on the agenda
Two important ports for rail freight transport will merge into one; Antwerp and Zeebrugge. Together, they are likely to overtake Rotterdam as the largest container port in Europe. Where Antwerp specialises in containers, break bulk...Read more
Austria integrated in Green Xpress network with 12 new lines
From mid-December Lineas will take its Xpress trains from Antwerp to Austria with two new services. One connects the Belgian hub to Wolfurt, while another links Antwerp to Wels and Vienna. In total, 12 additional...Read more
Expansion of rail capacity for the port of Zeebrugge
Infrabel, the manager of the Belgian railway network, is investing 11 million euros in the expansion and modernisation of the rail connection to the port of Zeebrugge. The work should be completed by the end...Read more