THE Belgian federal government has approved an amendment to its performance contract with infrastructure manager Infrabel for 2023-32, making changes to the planned investment programme that include new projects to prepare lines for the introduction of battery trains and improve military mobility.
Infrabel says that the new projects have been deliberately chosen as they can be implemented “immediately” and will deliver rapid results, improving the reliability, performance and sustainability of the national network.
A total of €27.5m has been allocated for work to enable battery trains to operate on unelectrified passenger lines, enabling CO2 emissions to be reduced more quickly and at lower cost. These lines are:
- Line 58: Ghent - Eeklo
- Line 82: Aalst - Burst
- Line 86: De Pinte - Ronse, and
- Line 122: Melle - Geraardsbergen.
Belgian National Railways (SNCB) is intending to replace its fleet of two-car AR41 DMUs with new BEMUs ordered under the major 12-year framework contract awarded to CAF last year.
Projects to make it easier to move military equipment and personnel by rail will receive €21.5m, and include installing 750m-long passing loops. As well as being of strategic benefit, Infrabel says that improving military mobility will benefit conventional freight traffic.
New investment projects also include laying a second track on Line 19 between Mol and Neerpelt near the Dutch border, which will receive €15.6m. This will increase capacity for passenger and freight services, including military traffic, and improve performance on this key link to the Netherlands, Germany and Eastern Europe.
Projects postponed
Infrabel says that the 2023-2032 investment programme has been revised to reflect project feasibility, postponing projects that require more preparation or work in coordination with neighbouring countries. In the meantime, the resources available have been reallocated to other projects where work is ready to start and which demonstrate clear added value in both social and economic terms.
Two major projects have been postponed without being cancelled, Infrabel stresses, including a €87.5m programme to upgrade the freight line between Ghent and the port of Terneuzen in the Netherlands. This requires further agreements to be concluded with the Netherlands and will be considered in conjunction with other cross-border projects.
Also on hold is the €37m project to rebuild Antwerp Berchem station. Infrabel says that a new round of consultation is required in order to arrive at an agreed optimum solution for this complex project.
In the meantime, the combined budget of €124.5m for the two postponed projects, complemented by €52m of European Union (EU) funding, has been reallocated to station upgrades, improving rail links to ports, safety projects and advancing digitalisation. Station upgrades will receive €82.3m and port projects €68.7m, including upgrades at Antwerp and Zeebrugge (€42.8m), Ghent (€24.4m) and Ostend (€1.5m).
“Infrabel is investing in new rail projects that enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability,” says Infrabel CEO, Benoît Gilson.
“The plan is financially balanced and enables our customers and the Belgian economy to feel the impact of these targeted investments more quickly.”
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