


Infrabel, BASF and Combinant start rail transformation at port of Antwerp
BASF, the chemical giant and Combinant, Belgium’s largest intermodal terminal, take their rail game seriously. Backed by Infrabel, Belgium’s rail infrastructure manager, the two companies aim to facilitate rail access to their locations within the...Read more
Rail investments in Belgium: Infrabel is grateful but not satisfied
Earlier this week, the Belgian government announced that it would allocate 250 million euros in the current budget for rail-related projects. In addition, a spokesperson from Infrabel told RailFreight.com that 200 million euros extra will...Read more
Infrabel may close lines if government doesn’t commit money
Infrabel, Belgium’s infrastructure manager, might decide to close some of its rail lines if the Belgian government does not accept the company’s demands for the future of rail freight. The government has launched a plan...Read more
Belgium gives green light to Rail Roadmap 2030 after year of talks
The action plan in Belgium to double the volume of rail freight transport by 2030 has been approved by the government. On Friday 30 September, the Council of Ministers approved the plan that was proposed...Read more
Rail investments in Ghent’s part of North Sea Port continue strong
The port of Ghent, part of the broader North Sea Port complex in Belgium, experiences a boom in rail investments. The Belgian government and Infrabel, the country’s infrastructure manager, are on a mission to renew...Read more
The lessons Infrabel learned from the flood: ‘We had never expected the rail embankments to become so unstable’
“The flooding of last year was the worst disaster we ever experienced on the Belgian railways”, said Bart Kamoen, civil engineer at Infrabel. How did Infrabel deal with the aftermath, and what is needed to...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
Rail freight even greener with these green sleepers
The first green sleepers in Europe will be seen in Belgium. The production of the sulfur-based units started yesterday at the site of manufacturer de Bonte in Henegouwen, Belgium and infra manager Infrabel has already...Read more
European infrastructure CEOs discuss the future of TEN-T network
Today in Brussels, chief executives from rail infrastructure companies discussed the upcoming revisions of the TEN-T and RFC Regulations, the importance of international rail passenger traffic and acceleration of railway digitalisation.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 more
North 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 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
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
Flood aftermath: Infrabel in search for alternative routes on the North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor
Last week’s flood disaster, which damaged large parts of the Wallonian railway in Belgium, also paralysed the North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor. Infrabel examines alternative routes for the strategic rail freight corridor, but the options are very...Read more
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