Belgium - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Introduction

This list is based on the timetable period from 13 December 2009 to 11 December 2010, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

Obscure services

Bruxelles/Brussel — Antwerpen via line 27

[25] (8B2-8B3) BE10/1

This line is effectively four-tracked throughout. However, the two pairs of tracks follow different alignments over some sections, to the extent that they are accorded different line numbers by NMBS/SNCB: the "fast" route is line 25, the "slow" route line 27. Passenger trains between Bruxelles/Brussel and Antwerpen - both fast and stopping - normally use line 25. Principal normal regular passenger use of line 27 and associated routes is believed to be as follows:

• Y Machelen - Vilvoorde {1}: table 26 trains
• Vilvoorde - Y Weerde {1}: table 26 trains
• Y Weerde - Weerde - Mechelen (low level) south end: trains on tables 25 and 26 calling at Weerde
• Y Weerde - Hofstade - Y Prinsenhoek - Muizen [line 27B]: table 26 stopping trains between Mechelen and Vilvoorde calling at Muizen
• Muizen - Mechelen (low level) north end [lines 53, 53A]: table 26 stopping trains between Mechelen and Vilvoorde calling at Muizen
• Mechelen (low level) - Mechelen-Nekkerspoel: IR b trains
• Mechelen-Nekkerspoel - Y Sint-Katelijne-Waver: IC Q, IC R and IR b trains (all SSuX)
• Y Sint-Katelijne-Waver - Y Duffel {1}: IC Q, IC R and IR b trains (all SSuX)
• Y Duffel - Kontich {1}: IC Q and IR b trains (all SSuX)
• Kontich - Hove {1}: services via @BE10/5 and @BE10/6
• Hove - Y Liersesteenweg: services via @BE10/5 and @BE10/6
• Y Liersesteenweg - Y Drabstraat: see @BE10/5
• Y Drabstraat - Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 5 and 8: table 15 trains (except those via @BE10/7), and table 25 trains via @BE10/5
• Y Liersesteenweg - Y Krijgsbaan [line 27A]: see @BE10/6
• Y Krijgsbaan - Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 1 and 4 [line 27A]: table 15 trains via @BE10/7, and table 25 trains via @BE10/6

{1} - these sections of line 27 are parallel and adjacent to line 25

Antwerpen-Noordderdokken - Antwerpen docks area

[12] (8B3) BE10/2

A restricted peak hour service is provided between Antwerpen-Berchem and Antwerpen-Haven, sited in the south yards alongside the traction depot. See table 12.

This route (part of line 27A) has also been used in the past by unadvertised staff trains into the Antwerpen docks complex, with services from Antwerpen-Berchem shown on the departure screens there (but not on the printed lists) continuing beyond Antwerpen-Haven to complete a clockwise circuit via the north side yards calling at additional staff halts. It is not known if they still run. If any reader observes such trains on the departure screens the compilers would be very pleased to hear from them.

Antwerpen-Centraal avoiding line: Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Noord Berchem) — Antwerpen-Oost

[12] (8B3) BE10/3

This curve (two parallel double-track lines, 27/1 and part of 27A), avoiding Antwerpen-Centraal, is accessible from Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 1 to 8 only. Since the opening of the through platforms at Antwerpen-Centraal its usage has been much reduced:

	SSuX	P7272	06:58 Antwerpen-Berchem – Antwerpen-Haven
	SSuX	P7276	07:29 Antwerpen-Berchem – Antwerpen-Haven
	SSuX	P8280	Antwerpen-Haven - 16:19 Antwerpen-Oost - Aarschot
	SSuX	P8215	Antwerpen-Noorderdokken - 16:41 Antwerpen-Dam - Aarschot
	SSuX	P8274	Antwerpen-Noorderdokken - 17:33 Antwerpen-Luchtbal - Boom

Antwerpen-Berchem — Antwerpen-Zuid (Y West Berchem) via relief route

[52, 59] (8B3) BE10/4

There are two routes over this section: line 59/1, the normal route to/from Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 6 and 7 leading to Antwerpen-Centraal, and part of line 59, the relief route to/from platforms 2 and 3 leading to Antwerpen-Oost. The relief route is used by trains as indicated on the platform departure sheets at Antwerpen-Berchem.

D	WO	P7289	12:29 Antwerpen-Berchem - St.Niklaas
	SSuX	P8292	17:13 Antwerpen-Berchem - St.Niklaas
	SSuX	P8274	Antwerpen-Noorderdokken - 17:44 Antwerpen-Berchem - Boom
	SSuX	P8293	18:13 Antwerpen-Berchem - St.Niklaas

If a reader discovers any arrival sheets and can identify arrivals using this route, the compilers would be very pleased to hear from them.

Hove (Y Liersesteenweg) — Mortsel (Y Drabstraat)

[15, 25] (8B3) BE10/5

This route (part of line 27) acts as a connecting spur between the Antwerpen - Lier line (the middle line of the three between Antwerpen-Berchem and the Mortsel area) south of Mortsel, and the Antwerpen - Bruxelles/Brussel main line north of Hove. It is used by services between Mechelen and Antwerpen which call at both Hove and Mortsel.

Hove (Y Liersesteenweg) — Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Krijgsbaan)

[25] (8B3) BE10/6

This route (part of line 27A) constitutes the easternmost pair of tracks between Hove and Antwerpen-Berchem (east side platforms 1 and 4). It is used by trains to and from the Mechelen line indicated on the platform departure and arrival sheets at Antwerpen-Berchem as using these platforms. Details for the current timetable period are not known. If any reader can provide details from the departure and arrival sheets the compilers would be very pleased to hear from them.

Boechout (Y Aubry) — Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Krijgsbaan)

[15] (8B3) BE10/7

This route (line 15/1) is a flying-junction link between the Lier line and Antwerpen-Berchem's east side platforms 1 and 4. It may be used by trains running non-stop between Lier and Antwerpen-Berchem but confirmation would be welcome.

The following train has been observed using this route:

SSuX

P7215

Hasselt - 07:42 Lier - Antwerpen-Berchem

Sint-Katelijne-Waver (Y Sint-Katelijne-Waver/Y Otterbeek) — Muizen

[25, 53a] (8B2) BE10/8

This north to east curve north of Mechelen (part of line 27B) links the Antwerpen - Bruxelles/Brussel and the Mechelen - Hever - Leuven lines. North of Mechelen-Nekkerspoel, the northbound and southbound tracks form a flying junction with line 27, and are on quite separate alignments. It is used by IC Q services between Antwerpen and Leuven on weekdays.

Aarschot avoiding line: Begijnendijk (Y Noord Aarschot) — Langdorp (Y Oost Aarschot)

[16, 35] (8B2) BE10/9

A west to east link (part of line 16) avoiding Aarschot station.

SSuX

P7215

Hasselt - 07:16 Langdorp - Antwerpen-Berchem

Delta (Y Etterbeek) — Boondaal (Y Boondaal)

[26] (10B1) BE10/10

This line, part of line 26 (the through Halle - Mechelen line avoiding Bruxelles/Brussel on the east side), forms the third side of a triangle, avoiding Etterbeek station. It is used by an hourly service of L trains, SSuX, shown in table 26 as not calling at Etterbeek.

St. Job (Y Linkebeek-Halle) — Linkebeek [26, 124]

(10B1) BE10/11

This flying connection enables trains from the east side stations in Bruxelles/Brussel to proceed direct, via Etterbeek, to the Charleroi line. It is used by hourly SSuX trains between Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman and Braine l'Alleud and also by two P trains each way between Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman and Châtelet.

Hever (Y Hever) — Hofstade (Y Prinsenhoek)

[36, 53a] (8B2) BE10/12

This curve (line 27B/1) forms part of a link between the Bruxelles/Brussel - Antwerpen line and the Mechelen - Leuven line, providing an alternative to the direct Bruxelles/Brussel - Leuven line. It no longer has any booked services.

See also

• Belgium
• Belgium - General Information