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*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to "Chemins de fer Belges" and "Belgische spoorwegen". On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS.  
*Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the [http://www.b-rail.be national railway system] in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to "Chemins de fer Belges" and "Belgische spoorwegen". On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS.  


*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system).  
*[https://www.thalys.com/img/1427897808/pdf/presse/release/en/1427897799_15.04.01._Thalys_is_now_a_train_operati.pdf ''Thalys''] is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). ''Izy'', which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of ''Thalys''.


*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).
*''Eurostar'' is operated by [http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/about-eurostar/company-information/behind-the-scenes Eurostar International Ltd], owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).
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==Timetable==
==Timetable==
===Journey Planner===
===Journey Planner===
*SNCB/NMBS: [http://www.b-rail.be www.b-rail.be]
====SNCB/NMBS====
*SNCB/NMBS by Smartphone: [http://www.railtime.be/mobile/ www.railtime.be/mobile]
*Website: [https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/current/current-departure-times Timetable & buy tickets]
*Regional public transport companies De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be www.delijn.be]
*By Smartphone: [http://mobile.b-rail.be/en Journey planner etc]
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be www.infotec.be]
 
====Regional public transport companies====
*De Lijn: [http://www.delijn.be/en/ De Lijn Route planner]
*TEC ("Transport En Commun"): [http://www.infotec.be TEC]
 
===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
On the [http://www.belgianrail.be/fr/service-clientele/outils-voyage/lignes.aspx Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:
On the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/lines-leaflets Brochures de ligne] web page, select either:
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services or
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés</I> for weekday services, or
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services
* <I>Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés</I> for weekend services
These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.
Timetables for individual '''IC routes''' are available from the ''Brochures IC'' page although as at September 2018 the links from the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/fr/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ French language site] are not working, but from the [https://www.belgiantrain.be/nl/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/leaflets/ic-leaflets/ Dutch language site] they are.  These tables show '''only''' the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.


===Printed Timetable===
===Printed Timetable===
Line 52: Line 59:


===Engineering Information===
===Engineering Information===
<!---Forward information on engineering works can be obtained from either
SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at [http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-nmbs-routeplanner/help.exe/en?tpl=him_map&tplParamHimMsgInfoGroup=works Customer Service – Works Info]. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.
*(i) [http://werfinftrv.infrabel.be/website_prd/map.aspx?lang=0 werfinftrv.infrabel.be/website_prd/map.aspx?lang=0] which gives an interactive map (select your date) and leads to details of each job shown, or
*(ii) [http://werfinftrv.b-holding.be/printaffgen.aspx?lang=FR werfinftrv.b-holding.be/printaffgen.aspx?lang=FR] which gives an abridged listing of the month's works, plus forward continuing works. By using the SNCB journey planner to call up trains on an affected route, two info buttons will be given - that in the "Correspondance" column leads to detailed information about the particular job affecting that train, whilst that in the "Infos" column will bring up the same abridged listing as [http://werfinftrv.b-holding.be/printaffgen.aspx?lang=FR werfinftrv.b-holding.be/printaffgen.aspx?lang=FR]--->


News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts can be obtained at [http://www.b-europe.com/Travel/Practical/Alerts Traffic Disruptions and Alerts]
News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact '''international''' services can be obtained at [https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Disruptions Traffic Disruptions]


==Maps==
==Maps==
Line 65: Line 70:
===Web-based Maps===
===Web-based Maps===
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:
*The infrastructure provider has some useful plans:
**[http://www.infrabel.be/en/professionals/rail-operators/network-statement Detailed map of the network]. The Track Map has been updated to 01/01/16 and is found at "C. Maps". Click on "C.4 Technical Map of Network" to download the pdf.
**[https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/C-Kaarten.zip zip file containing several maps.] The Technical Map of the network (a simplified track diagram) is C03.
**[http://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/documents/nv_c-01-schematische_netkaart-volledig-10459-01_3.pdf overview route plan in black & white, identifying line numbers]
**[http://www.belgianrail.be/fr/service-clientele/outils-voyage/~/media/B47DA7B888224B87BF23077BD3D26D59.pdf overview route plan, identifying line numbers]
<i>(note that these URLs may change in future years so a little experimentation may be necessary to get later versions)</i>.
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015] or [http://www.belgianrail.be/~/media/e811c526377b4359ac2f7dbf81f877be.pdf schematic passenger routes including High Speed by line number 2017]
*[http://f.cl.ly/items/1x143A2D3w071S3h0B2I/Belgium.pdf Passenger network route map 2014/2015]
*An unofficial map shows the [http://www.garesbelges.be/cartes/reseau_belge.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines.  
*An unofficial map shows the [http://users.skynet.be/fa058639/carte/reseau.pdf maximum extent] of the Belgian system, identifying passenger, freight and <i>closed</i> lines.  
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*[http://www.sporenplan.nl/ Sporenplan] has a series of on-line schematic track diagrams. Click on "Sporenplannen" on the left hand side for a map showing the countries covered.
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_benelux.php Benelux Map].
*Thorsten Büker's [http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps_benelux.php Benelux Map]. Although this remains on-line, the Büker maps are no longer being maintained. Last update November 2011.
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]
*[[Maps and Plans#Belgium|Maps and Plans - Belgium]]


==Ticketing==
==Ticketing==
Ordinary tickets for travel between two SNCB/NMBS stations are valid only for
A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet &quot;''Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes''&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.
direct journeys on the date of issue, in both outward and return directions. If
 
it is desired to break one's journey, to travel other than via the direct route,
A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly ''Thalys'', ''ICE'', ''Izy'' and ''Eurostar'' - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.
or to travel on a later date, this must be specified when buying the ticket. The
fare for such tickets is calculated from the distance shown in the timetable
(which may include some fictional km, eg to finance exceptional infrastructure)
and a fixed terminal charge. Numerous discounted fares are available (generally
expressed as a % of the ordinarly fare apart from the terminal charge). A  
summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares, such as
minigroup and weekend returns, is given in the timetable, but for full  
information you should consult the booklet &quot;Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et  
Cartes&quot; (or the equivalent in Flemish). Note also that tickets at the special
fares applicable in several cases for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong>
can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned. The  
Benelux-Tourrail card is particularly useful to tourists, allowing five days  
unlimited travel on the railways of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg during a
period of one month. A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the  
train while the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a  
ticket at an unstaffed station, inform the conductor immediately upon joining
the train if you wish to avoid the penalty.


Belgium vending machines can be found in the foreign border stations of Roosendaal and Maastricht, as well as Aachen (Aix la Chapelle), as services to these stations are served by SNCB EMUs.  
Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for <strong>short cross-border journeys</strong> can be bought <strong>only</strong> at the stations concerned.  
   
   
Considerable efforts have been made to improve integration
Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations.  '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx  MOBIB].
between the various public transport services in Belgium. As well as
timetable coordination, this has taken the form of through ticketing, so
that travellers can buy a rail ticket valid for connecting travel by  
bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities. In Brussels,  
standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban  
bus/tram/métro network are now similarly valid for travel by rail between  
any of the city's stations.  '<strong>MOBIB</strong>' became the national chipcard for e-ticketing in Belgium public transport, more information is available at [http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx  http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/mobib.aspx].
 
Seat reservations are available only on long-distance international services (they
are mandatory on TGV-type services such as Thalys and Eurostar).


==Infrastructure==
==Infrastructure==
Line 115: Line 92:


===Network Statement===
===Network Statement===
The [http://www.infrabel.be/en/rail-operators/running-our-network/network-statement Network Statement page] enables Network Statements to be downloaded.
[http://www.infrabel.be/en/rail-operators/running-our-network/network-statement Network Statement page].


===Gauge===
===Gauge===
Line 133: Line 110:


===Distances===
===Distances===
Technical documents [http://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/documents/ns-e_01_distance_stations-nodes.pdf Appendix E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.
Network Statement [https://www.infrabel.be/sites/default/files/legacy/documents/ns_e_01_distance_stations-nodes.pdf Annex E1] gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.


==Other railways==
==Other railways==
None (but note that part of the existing nework was
None.
orginally built and operated by numerous private companies under concessions
 
that required technical compatibility and inter-operation). Although ticketing
for travel on international passenger services by Eurostar, Thalys etc. is
handled by the SNCB/NMBS, their tariffs and conditions for reimbursement etc.
are completely independent of those applicable to rail travel wholly within
Belgium. Suitably-equipped motive power from neighbouring networks has long
worked through into Belgium (and vice versa). And new rolling stock produced at
Bombardier's factory in Brugge may occasionally be seen on test nearby.
==Tourist lines==  
==Tourist lines==  
Standard gauge, unless otherwise noted.
Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.
*[http://cfv3v.in-site-out.com Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] Mariembourg - Treignes.
*[http://site.cfv3v.eu/site/?lang=en_gb Le Chemin de fer à vapeur des Trois Vallées (CF3V)] : Mariembourg - Treignes
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum vzw Maldegem (SCM)]: Eeklo - Maldegem; also 600mm gauge line Maldegem - Donk
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Eeklo - Maldegem
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] Dendermonde - Puurs
*[http://www.stoomcentrum.be Stoomcentrum Maldegem (SCM)] : Maldegem - Donk. 600mm gauge (diesel operated)
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] 600mm gauge line Rebecq - Rognon (on abandoned standard gauge alignment)
*[http://www.stoomtrein.be/en Stoomtrein Dendermonde - Puurs] : Dendermonde - Puurs
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be Tramway des Grottes de Han] (Le Domaine des Grottes de Han) Metre-gauge tramway (diesel operated) Han - Grottes de Han, in conjunction with visits to caves.
*[http://www.rail-rebecq-rognon.eu Le Rail Rebecq - Rognon] Rebecq - Rognon. 600mm gauge, on former standard gauge alignment
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] Metre-gauge tramway (diesel operated) Pont d'Erezée - Forge-à-l'Aplez. An extension to Dochamps - which (because of steep gradients) only operated if rails were dry, if there were not too many passengers and if staff were available - is no longer advertised while a long-planned extension thence to Lamormenil seems to have been abandoned.
*[http://www.grotte-de-han.be/en Tramway des Grottes de Han] : Han - Grottes de Han. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated), in conjunction with visits to caves (<i>grottes</i>)
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] 600mm gauge line Sprimont - Damré (see [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation).
*[http://www.tta.be Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA)] Pont d'Erezée - Lamormenil. Metre-gauge former Vicinal tramway (diesel operated)  
*[http://www.asvi.be Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)] Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre-gauge tramway, based at museum on site of Thuin Nord station.
*[http://www.cfs-sprimont.be Le chemin de fer de Sprimont (CFS)] : Sprimont - Damré. 600mm gauge. <i>See [http://www.cfs-sprimont.be/Agenda.htm Agenda] for dates of operation</i>
*[http://www.cfbocq.be Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB] Ciney - Evrehailles-Bauche (Bocq valley) line. The extension from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche opened on 12 June 2015.
*[http://www.asvi.be/en/index/index.htm Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal (ASVi)]: Lobbes - Thuin - Biesme-sous-Thuin. Metre gauge former Vicinal tramway (electrically worked), based at museum on site of Thuin West station and incorporating a re-gauged section of former standard gauge line 109
*[http://www.kolenspoor.be/ Kolenspoor] Waterschei - As - Eisden. This railway has gone bankrupt and no longer operates. It is not known if the 600mm gauge line at As still runs. Railbike Limburg, based at As station, operates from April to November and at weekends in the school holidays - apparently to Eisden (see "Rail cycling" below).
*[http://www.cfbocq.be/index.php/en/ Chemin de Fer du Bocq (CFB)] : Ciney - Purnode - Evrehailles-Bauche  


Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Belgien (BE)'.
Rail cycling (''railvoertuig'' in Flemish; ''draisines'' in French) is available on the following sections of line:
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://railbiketessenderlo.com/&usg=ALkJrhi6UCPsf6k3DdKBfUNKRMs7_29HxQ Railbike Tessenderlo]: Tessenderlo – Ham, Albert Canal (4 km each way)
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbikelimburg.be%2F&edit-text Railbike Limburg]:  Munsterbilzen – Gellik (6 km each way)
*[https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.railbike.be%2Ffr%2Frailbike.aspx&edit-text Railbike des Hautes Fagnes]: Kalterherberg – Sourbrodt (7 km each way – part of former Vennbahn)
*[http://www.molignee.be/draisines/draisines_gb.htm Les Draisines de la Molignée]: Denée-Maredsous - Warnant (7 km each way)
*[https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=http://www.spoorfietsen.be/&usg=ALkJrhhSaPyU9SqFf8Iu6oNRSuGn5qpZqw In the track of the soldiers]: Kapellen – Brasschaat (5km each way)


==Metro==
==Metro==
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. The two latter networks consist of the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.
Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. These are all the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.


A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available on the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site].
Track plans are available for [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ Bruxelles/Brussel] and [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] but only route plans appear to be available on the internet for Antwerpen. '''The compilers would be pleased to know if a plan is available for Antwerpen'''.


==Trams==
==Trams==
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi and Gent. The [http://www.dekusttram.be ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast in either direction from Oostende. In Bruxelles, the [http://www.trammuseumbrussels.be Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois] - in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates historic trams to Tervuren, and sometimes elsewhere around the city, as advertised, while in Antwerpen the [http://www.delijn.be/over/vlatam/index.htm Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] - in a former depôt near Berchem station - similarly operates in the city, as advertised. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.
City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi and Gent. The [https://www.delijn.be/en/kusttram/index.html?vertaling=true ''Kusttram''] operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/ Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois)] - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram [https://trammuseum.brussels/en/brussels-tourist-tramway/presentation/ tour around the city] on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the [https://www.delijn.be/nl/overdelijn/organisatie/educatief/museum/ Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum] (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.


A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available on the [http://carto.metro.free.fr/ carto.metro.tramway.rer.funiculaire site].
A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available [http://carto.metro.free.fr/metro-tram-bruxelles/ here].
Track plans for the Charleroi and ''Kusttram'' systems are available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site].
Track plans for the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Charleroi.pdf Charleroi] and  
[http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Kusttram.pdf Kusttram] systems are available on the [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/index-e.php Gleisplanweb site]. From 14 May 2017 for 18 months the Pétria - Anderlues Monument section of the Charleroi system is closed for engineering works - see the [https://www.infotec.be/en-us/keepinformed/news/detail.aspx?idnews=4481 TEC website].


See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]
See also [[Belgium_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes]]


==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including
* "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and
* "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent
In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.
Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB has no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts.
In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB has no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts.


Most of the Belgian railway system is now electrified. Major upgrading and new infrastructure (four-tracking) work has begun within a radius of about 30 km around Brussels in order to enable a &quot;Regional Express Railway&quot; ([http://www.infrabel.be/fr/a-propos-dinfrabel/projets-en-cours/le-reseau-express-regional RER]) to be created. "Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. More frequent services between Brussels and the Airport via this line started on 14 December 2014. Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016. The new line is used by services IC17 Dinant - Namur - Bruxelles-Schuman - Brussel Nationaal Luchthaven, IC27 Chareroi Sud - Nivelles - Bruxelles-Schuman - Brussel Nationaal Luchthaven, local trains between Geraardsbergen and Mechelen via Halle and Vilvoorde and peak hour trains between Braine l'Alleud and Leuven or Landen.
Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016.   
 
The restoration of scheduled local passenger services across the French border on the "classic" Nord main line from Quévy to Maubeuge and Aulnoye-Aymeries has been tried twice but EU policy requires cross-border services (unlike wholly internal ones) to be commercially viable; this proved impossible as this (and similar services), unlike competing road services, generally suffer from the need to comply with two independent sets of national standards, yet have a relatively small potential traffic.
   
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.


SNCB announced service cuts at the end of 2012, which involved withdrawal of certain local trains early in the morning and during the evening. However, local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.
From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY --->


Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended Fyra train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was inctroduced from 18 February 2013 with 2 trains each way per day, which increased to 8 trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. This service will continue to run until replacement high speed trains are obtained.
The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.


From 7 April 2014 some Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border, increased to an hourly service from 14 December 2014. There are proposals to electrify the line east of Herentals and extend this to Weert, to connect to the NS network.
A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.


A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This has resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. The ''Thalys'' trains between Liège and Paris via Mons will be withdrawn from 1 April 2015.
Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended ''Fyra'' train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.


From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016. <!--- IF/WHEN THIS GETS DELETED REMEMBER TO DELETE EQUIVALENT LUXEMBOURG ENTRY --->
"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.


On December 23 2016, SNCB announced [http://www.belgianrail.be/fr/corporate/Presse/Presse-releases/23_12_2016.aspx] the reopening of line 125A from December 2016 including stations at Seraing and Ougrée with a service of L trains calling at Flémalle - Seraing - Liège - Liers.
A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Li&egrave;ge and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.


==Special notes==
==Special notes==
Line 227: Line 206:
===Passenger train numbering===
===Passenger train numbering===
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.
*the concept of &quot;up&quot; and &quot;down&quot; (or <i>pair</i> and <i>impair</i> in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be &quot;A&quot; and the other &quot;B&quot;, with direction &quot;A&quot; being that in which the trackside km increases.
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance.
*internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.
*trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French <i>pair</i>/<i>impair</i> numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.

Revision as of 10:07, 15 October 2019

Country Name

Belgium (Belgie/Belgique)

National Railway System

Since 1 Jan. 2005, the infrastructure (Infrabel) and train operation (SNCB/NMBS) companies have been subsidiaries of the SNCB/NMBS Holding company.

National Railway Operator

  • Société Nationale des Chemins der fer Belges (SNCB) and Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS) are the formal titles of the national railway system in French and Dutch respectively. However, these are usually shortened to "Chemins de fer Belges" and "Belgische spoorwegen". On rolling stock, station signs and publicity material the letter B in an oval is used instead of SNCB or NMBS.
  • Thalys is operated by two stand-alone companies, one owned by SNCF (60%) and SNCB/NMBS (40%), the other (for services to Germany and the Netherlands) owned by SNCF (62%), SNCB/NMBS (28%) and DB (10%) (NS is not a partner although services extend over that system). Izy, which operates low-cost services between Brussels and Paris is a brand of Thalys.
  • Eurostar is operated by Eurostar International Ltd, owned by SNCF (controlling interest of 55%), private investors (who in 2015 acquired the 40% share previously owned by the UK government) and SNCB/NMBS (5%).

Languages

Belgium consists of three Regions: Flanders, to the north of the provincial boundary line running roughly between Menin and Visé, in which Dutch is the official language; Wallonia, to the south of that line, where French is the official language, and the Capital, Brussels, which is officially bi-lingual but mostly French-speaking. German is officially recognised in the area around Eupen and Malmedy. By law, public bodies must use only the official language(s) of each Region for texts in that Region, so travellers should be aware that, for example, the name of a train's destination may change significally during the journey (eg: Bergen = Mons, Luik = Liège). All railway personnel whose duties involve contact with the public are required on recruitment to show they can speak both languages, and some (especially in Flanders) are also fluent in English etc., but of course others may become rather out-of-practice in their second language. Railway tickets are normally issued from computer terminals and at bilingual stations may be issued in either language, depending on how the passenger requests it; some types of ticket purchases and reservations can now be made via the internet.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 88; alpha B

Timetable

Journey Planner

SNCB/NMBS

Regional public transport companies

Downloadable Timetable

On the Brochures de ligne web page, select either:

  • Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Lundi au vendredi, sauf jours fériés for weekday services, or
  • Indicateur des Chemins de Fer Belges: Samedis, dimanches et jours fériés for weekend services

These show all passenger trains over a line, regardless of category. They are also available here unbundled as individual tables for each line.

Timetables for individual IC routes are available from the Brochures IC page although as at September 2018 the links from the French language site are not working, but from the Dutch language site they are. These tables show only the IC trains of the IC route number in question – not all trains over the same route.

Printed Timetable

The Spoorboekje/Indicateur officiel, with some text in German and English as well as French and Flemish, is available as a series of leaflets, suitable for holding in a ring binder, although it is possible this is no longer available. The compilers would welcome news of the current situation.

Engineering Information

SNCB / NMBS provide weekly information on engineering work at Customer Service – Works Info. Typically there are pages for only the next 4 weeks and pages may often be incomplete when first added.

News of current or future traffic disruptions and alerts that impact international services can be obtained at Traffic Disruptions

Maps

Printed Maps

  • European Railway Atlas: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2011-6)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

A summary of the various options for travelling with reduced fares is given in the timetable, but for full information consult the booklet "Guide du Voyageur - Billets, Pass et Cartes" (or the equivalent in Flemish). The Benelux-Tourrail card allows five days unlimited travel in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg within one month.

A penalty charge is levied if a ticket is purchased on the train whilst the ticket office at the station is open. When boarding without a ticket at an unstaffed station, contact the conductor immediately to avoid a penalty fare. On some "high speed" services - particularly Thalys, ICE, Izy and Eurostar - fares are specific and not interavailable with tickets for other trains. Seat reservations are not available on purely domestic services.

Belgian ticket machines are provided at Roosendaal, Maastricht and Aachen as these stations are served by SNCB trains. Tickets at special fares for short cross-border journeys can be bought only at the stations concerned.

Through rail tickets which include travel by bus/tram/métro within the flat-fare zone of major cities are available. In Brussels, standard flat-fare single, multi-ride and 1-day tickets valid on the urban bus/tram/métro network are also valid for travel by rail between any of the city's stations. 'MOBIB' is the national chipcard for e-ticketing on public transport; more information is available at MOBIB.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Infrabel

Network Statement

Network Statement page.

Gauge

Standard

Electrification

3kV dc. However, 25kV 50Hz is used on high speed lines and in the Ardennes. The boundaries between the systems in the Ardennes are as follows:

  • Dinant - Virton: between Anseremme and Gendron-Celles
  • Libramont - Bertrix: just west of Libramont
  • (Liège -) Rivage - Gouvy (- Luxembourg): between Rivage and Aywaille
  • Arlon - Athus: between Y Autelbas and Messancy

Dual-system motive power is used on these lines.

Rule of the road

Left (but most lines are signalled for operation in either direction).

Distances

Network Statement Annex E1 gives distances in metres for each significant location by Line Number.

Other railways

None.

Tourist lines

Standard gauge and steam worked, unless otherwise noted. English language webpage given where available.

Rail cycling (railvoertuig in Flemish; draisines in French) is available on the following sections of line:

Metro

Bruxelles, Antwerpen and Charleroi. These are all the central sections of metre-gauge tram routes.

Track plans are available for Bruxelles/Brussel and Charleroi but only route plans appear to be available on the internet for Antwerpen. The compilers would be pleased to know if a plan is available for Antwerpen.

Trams

City networks in Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Charleroi and Gent. The Kusttram operates along the coast from Oostende, west to De Panne and east to Knokke. In Bruxelles/Brussel, the Brussels Tram Museum (Musée du Transport Urbain Bruxellois) - located in the former Woluwe tram depôt - operates an historic tram tour around the city on Sundays in the summer and once a month at other times of the year. In Antwerpen the Vlaams Tram- en Autobusmuseum (site available only in Flemish) is housed in a former depôt near Berchem station. See also the references to tramways under Tourist Lines.

A track plan for the Bruxelles system is available here. Track plans for the Charleroi and Kusttram systems are available on the Gleisplanweb site. From 14 May 2017 for 18 months the Pétria - Anderlues Monument section of the Charleroi system is closed for engineering works - see the TEC website.

See also Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes

Recent and future changes

The 2020-2023 transport plan under consultation in June 2019 includes several mentions of possible new passenger services over non-passenger lines including

  • "Nieuwe S-verbinding Antwerpen - Waaslandhaven" - a passenger service into Antwerp docks and
  • "Bediening van de haven van Gent (lijn 204) – Zelzate" - the same at Gent

In July 2018, the federal Minister of Transport announced the introduction from the December 2018 timetable change of 2 return trips from Namur and Charleroi-Sud to Maubeuge and from Mons to Aulnoye-Aymeries in both cases with connections to and from Paris.

Line 125A, Flémalle-Haute - Liège via Seraing, reopened to passengers on June 10th 2018.

In January 2017 the federal Minister of Transport announced that SNCB has no plans to close any further lines, stations or halts.

Services via the new "Watermael-Schuman-Josaphat" tunnel between Brussel/Bruxelles-Schuman and Line 26 south of Meiser started on 4 April 2016.

From 17 February 2016 Virton - Rodange CFL was reduced to a skeleton service because the introduction of different signalling systems meant there was no suitable CFL rolling stock available; the service was withdrawn completely from 20 June 2016 but resumed from 11 December 2016.

The Thalys trains between Liège and Paris via Mons were withdrawn from 1 April 2015. From the 2015 season, Le Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne (TTA) completed their long-planned reopening to Lamormenil, making a 12 km long line from Pont d’Érezée. The Chemin de Fer du Bocq was extended from Purnode to Evrehailles-Bauche on 12 June 2015.

A new transport plan was introduced with the timetable commencing on 14 December 2014, with the object of providing a more regular timetable. This resulted in the disappearance of a number of obscure or peak hour only routes. From 7 April 2014 Antwerpen - Neerpelt trains were extended to a reopened station at Hamont, on the Netherlands border. ‘’Kolenspoor’’, a standard-gauge preserved line between Waterschei, As and Eisden, last operated in 2014 and the organisation has since ceased to exist.

Owing to technical problems encountered on the Fyra trains, SNCB and NS Hispeed suspended Fyra train services in February 2013 and later cancelled the contract entirely. A substitute direct InterCity service between Brussel/Bruxelles and Den Haag was introduced from 18 February 2013 with two trains each way per day, which increased to eight trains from 11 March 2013. This was subsequently increased to hourly and extended to Amsterdam. It will be further diverted onto the High Speed line via Noorderkempen to serve Breda [reverse] from 9 April 2018.

"Project Diabolo", a northward extension of the Brussels Airport branch to join Line 25N (the new direct Brussels - Mechelen line running along the middle of the E19 motorway) by means of a triangular junction, opened on 10 June 2012 together with Line 25N itself. Local trains between Erquelinnes [BE] and Jeumont [FR] were withdrawn from 10 September 2012, severing this international crossing point for passengers.

A new short cutoff through a tunnel, avoiding the sharply curved section through Dolhain-Gileppe on the 'classic' route between Liège and Verviers, opened on 11 December 2011.

Special notes

In principle, all passenger services within Belgium run at intervals of one hour or less (two hours, in the case of the routes with the least traffic) between approximately 06:00 and 22:00, grouped into three categories:

  • Intercity (IC, stopping only at main stations)
  • Inter-regional (IR, stopping at stations of at least medium importance)
  • Local (L, stopping at all stations en route).

Where possible, the schedules are designed to ensure convenient connections between L trains and limited-stop services. Additional trains are scheduled outside the fixed-interval framework in the early morning and late evening, at peak hours (P), and for tourist traffic in the holiday season (T).

Many trains consist of electric multiple-units and some such services split en route to go to different destinations. Older units don't always carry a label to show where they are going, with reliance on ticket checks and public address announcements (making reference to the unit number, also displayed over the internal doorways) to ensure passengers are in the correct part of the train.

Each rail line in Belgium is identified by a line number, which is usually the same as the corresponding table number in the public timetable. Line numbers are displayed in white on blue hexagonal boards beside the track at junctions. Information intended for railway staff only (eg depots and stabling points, types of equipment) is conveyed by means of telegraphic codes; FSD = Ostend , HLE = electric loco etc.). Other trackside boards indicate line speed-limits (in tens of km/h), gradients over 12/1000, prohibition of 3-phase motive power ("DMT") etc.

Signal post numbering

  • in controlled area: F37 = signal F of blok (= block post or signal box) 37.
  • automatic signals on open line: A806 = signal on track A at km 80,6; BX753 = signal on track B for trains running in "wrong" (right-hand) direction at km 75,3, where the X denotes "wrong" direction; signals for use in the wrong direction show occulting aspects - the V of small white lights above certain signals is lit when the signal is cleared for a movement starting or ending such 'wrong direction' running.

Passenger train numbering

  • the concept of "up" and "down" (or pair and impair in French practice) to describe the direction of movement does not apply in Belgium; on a double track line one will be "A" and the other "B", with direction "A" being that in which the trackside km increases.
  • internal trains carry three or four digit numbers of which the first two digits denote route (and indicate direction) while the final digit(s) provide unique train number within that route - whether the final digit is odd or even carries no significance. In many cases, for services in one direction, the two final digits will indicate the hour of departure from the origin. For example, IC5xx services are Oostende-Eupen and IC504 to IC523 are the hourly departures from Oostende starting with the 0442.
  • trains between SNCB/NMBS and NS or CFL adopt Belgian practice throughout.
  • trains between SNCB/NMBS and SNCF carry different numbers within France (following the French pair/impair numbering practice) from those carried in Belgium.
  • International trains (classified as such) may have two (adjacent - one odd, one even) numbers, to accommodate the numbering systems of those adjacent administrations where odd and even numbers do denote direction; for motorail (AutoTrain) services originating in Benelux, the odd number will be one less than the even number.

See also