THE Belgian federal government has approved the 2026-2029 transport plan of state-owned passenger operator Belgian National Railways (SNCB), paving the way for a further expansion of train services as part of the country's long-term rail growth strategy.
The plan provides for an overall increase in services of around 3% and forms part of the objectives set out in SNCB's 2023-2032 public service obligation (PSO) contract, which targets a 10% increase in train services over the decade. It follows the 2023-2026 transport plan, under which services were expanded by approximately 5%.
The expansion will focus on improving connectivity to Brussels Airport Zaventem, strengthening links between major Belgian cities and increasing the frequency of suburban services in and around Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi and Liège.
Implementation will take place in three phases over successive timetable periods. Under the first phase, introduced at the 2027 timetable change on December 13 2026, additional trains will be added between a number of cities and on suburban routes serving the four urban areas. Weekend services will also be enhanced, including additional late-evening trains to and from Brussels on Saturdays. The new Braine Alliance station at Braine-l'Alleud will also be incorporated into the Brussels suburban network.
Under the 2028 timetable, services to Brussels Airport Zaventem will be further strengthened, including additional early-morning trains. SNCB says passengers from Bruges, Ghent and Brussels will be able to reach the airport as early as 03.30. The integration of Moensberg and Linkebeek stations into a single interchange within the Brussels suburban network is also planned.
A further increase in train frequencies is envisaged under the final phase of the programme at the 2029 timetable change
SNCB said successful implementation of the plan will depend on several factors, including the timely completion of planned railway infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements. The operator also stressed the importance of securing sufficient train paths on the network, noting that competing requests from other operators have resulted in capacity constraints on some routes, including Antwerp - Brussels.
The company also highlighted the need for the timely delivery of its fleet of new trains to support the planned service expansion. SNCB placed a framework order worth €1.7bn with CAF to supply an initial batch of 180 trains of different types. The first trains are due for delivery in 2030, and the order could eventually be extended to 380 trains.
