Old news (1996-2000)

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October 2000

Timetables have been modified on October, 1st : due to major works on line 50A, InterCity trains A and E now avoid the North/South junction on weekends. The InterRegio q Leuven-Sint Niklaas is now coupled with InterRegio a Leuven-Antwerp every weekends (between Leuven and Mechelen). (01/10/00)

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September 2000

The traditional "Train-Tram-Bus" day happened on Saturday 30 September 2000. About 44.000 tickets were sold, which is quite the same as the previous year, despite the strike of the TEC drivers. The most popular destinations were Brussels and the Belgian coast, but many passengers rode to Luxembourg and the Ardennes. (30/09/00)

About 1.350.000 persons travelled by train to the Belgian coast in July (525.000 passengers) and August (830.000 passsengers), which is 130.000 more passengers than for the same period of the previous year. 176 special trains ran, in addition to the tourist and regular trains. The first two destinations were Oostende and Blankenberge, followed by Knokke and La Panne. (07/09/00)

The passengers traffic increased during the first 6 months of 2000 : in comparison with the same period of 1999, there were 5,8 % more passengers (4,4 % on domestic traffic and 12,3 % on international traffic). The freight traffic increased with 7 %. (01/09/00)

Since 1st September, the price of the season ticket has been reduced for pupils and students under 18 : the school train card costs 45 % of the price of a normal train card (instead of 75 % before September). (01/09/00)

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August 2000

On 29 August, L-train 1561 Brussels-Dendermonde (operated by EMU 202) became derailed at Asse (line 60), after having run against a truck at a level crossing. Three passengers have been lightly injured. (29/08/00)

On 14 August, two passengers trains ran against each other in the tunnel joining Liège-Guillemins and Liège-Palais (line 34) : 21 passengers were injured. The accident is due to a human error : the driver of one train didn't stop at a red signal. (16/08/00)

A freight train carrying toxic products became derailed on 11 August, near Visé. The rail traffic was interrupted during a whole week, due to the high danger of explosion. (14/08/00)

More than 36.000 passengers traveled by train to the coast on 5 and 6 August. The Belgian Railways increased the seating capacity of the trains, and 6 special trains rode in addition to the regular service. (08/08/00)

As from August, the stations won't issue train tickets after 10.30 pm (except at Brussels-Midi/Zuid). This has been decided for security reasons. Passengers who want to buy a ticket in the night have to buy it in the train. (01/08/00)

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July 2000

SNCB/NMBS sold 107.650 "senior" tickets in the first 4 months of July. The main destinations are Brussels, Oostende, Antwerp and then Blankenberge. (31/07/00) [according to De Standaard

The European Football Championship, organized by Belgium and the Netherlands, ended on 2 July at Rotterdam. For this event, SNCB, TEC, STIB and De LIJN issued one common ticket, and many special trains rode after each match. (02/07/00)

Since 1st July, children under 12 will travel for free on the whole SNCB/NMBS network, if they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Seniors (over 65 years) are also able to buy a return ticket for a maximum price of 100 BEF. In the week, those special fares (and the gratuity for children) are only available after 9 am (no restriction in the week-end). (01/07/00)

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June 2000

Rail are now laid on the new high speed line Brussels-Liège. This laying process should end in 2001, and the line should be operational in 2002. (15/06/00)

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May 2000

Les nouveaux horaires d'été sont entrés en vigueur le 28 mai. Il y a peu de changements, mis à part le déménagement de l'activité auto-train de Schaerbeek vers Denderleeuw et Bressoux (suite aux travaux du TGV), et quelques suppressions de trains suite à une trop faible fréquentation (trains entre Mons et Aulnoye ainsi qu'entre Liège et Maastricht). En ce qui concerne le trafic TGV, une nouvelle relation Thalys a été créée entre Bruxelles et Genève, et la fréquence des trains a été augmentée entre Paris et Bruxelles. (28/05/00)

Le nombre de voyageurs sur le réseau de la SNCB est en hausse : le chiffre d'affaire a augmenté de 7,5 % au cours du premier trimestre de l'année 2000. Cette hausse est constatée dans tous les secteurs :

La hausse du prix de l'essence n'est pas étrangère non plus à l'augmentation des voyageurs. Sur certaines lignes, les trains circulent au maximum de leur capacité aux heures de pointe, et ne peuvent plus accueillir de passagers supplémentaires. La SNCB attend donc avec impatience la livraison des nouvelles voitures à double étage, prévue pour 2001. (26/05/00) 

Le nombre de suicide sur les rails connaît une croissance inquiétante : 99 personnes ont mis fin à leur vie en se jetant sous un train en 1999, soit 20% de plus que l'année précédente. Les frais qui découlent de ces suicident coûtent chaque année entre 10 et 15 millions de francs à la SNCB, dont 80 % sont remboursés par les assurances. La Ministre Durant et la SNCB vont commander une étude sur le sécurité le long des voies de chemin de fer, et les solutions qui peuvent être apportées. (24/05/00) [d'après De Standaard

La SNCB a procédé à un sondage auprès de ses usagers sur la qualité de son service en trafic voyageurs. La satisfaction globale de la clientèle a enregistré une légère progression entre 1998 et 1999, passant de 6,66/10 à 6,73/10.
La ponctualité et la qualité de l'information, même si elles ont un score plus élevé qu'en 1998, restent la préoccupation majeure de la clientèle : 5,4/10. L'hygiène et la propreté des toilettes sont une cause de mécontentement des usagers puisqu'elles n'obtiennent que 3/10 ! Parmi tous les critères qui ont fait l’objet d’une enquête, l’appréciation du personnel atteint le plus haut score : 7,67/10 pour le personnel des trains et 7,11/10 pour le personnel des gares. (04/05/2000)

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April 2000

Deux trains de voyageurs sont entrés en collision sur la ligne 130 à la hauteur d'Aiseau-Presles (entre Châtelet et Tamines), le mardi18 avril, vers 10h40. Le train L 4581 (assuré par l'automotrice 716) effectuant la liaison Namur-Charleroi a déraillé après avoir percuté des blocs de béton intentionnellement posés sur un aiguillage. Il a alors été percuté par le train IR 3331 (assuré par l'automotrice 819) venant en sens inverse. Le plan catastrophe a été déclenché et d'importants secours ont été mobilisés. Un des conducteurs, Antonio Mastronardi, a malheureusement perdu la vie. Le bilan de l'accident s'élève à 1 mort, 3 blessés graves et 18 blessés légers. Quant aux dégâts matériels, ils dépassent les 100 millions de BEF.
L'origine de cet accident est criminelle : ce sont 3 jeunes garçons, âgés de 8, 9 et 13 ans, qui ont causé le drame. Ils ont été arrêtés et placés dans un centre pour jeunes.
Cette affaire a suscité un vif émoi parmi le personnel de la SNCB, qui a arrêté symboliquement le travail pendant 30 minutes le vendredi 21 avril, et s'est rendu en masse à l'enterrement du conducteur décédé. (22/04/00)

Dans le cadre du plan "Rosetta", la SNCB engagera 2200 agents, dont plus de 1500 jeunes de moins de trente ans : le gouvernement fédéral et la SNCB ont en effet signé ce 11 avril une convention à ce sujet.
La SNCB, que la loi obligeait à engager 1200 travailleurs, va donc au-delà de ses obligations puisqu'elle crée de l'emploi pour 2200 statutaires à temps plein et à durée indéterminée, et ce dans la plupart des activités : conducteurs, accompagnateurs de trains, personnel de gare, etc ...
Par ailleurs, la SNCB a également signé une deuxième convention relative à l'engagement de 150 jeunes sous-qualifiés, qui travailleront à l'embellissement des gares et à l'amélioration de l'accueil des usagers.
Pour plus de détail sur ce dossier, consultez la revue de presse. (12/04/00) 

Le gouvernement a l'intention d'instaurer la gratuité de transport sur le réseau SNCB pour les enfants de moins de 12 ans accompagnés, et ce dès le 1er juillet 2000. Il envisage également de créer pour les plus de 65 ans un billet spécial dont le prix serait plafonné à 50 BEF, quelle que soit la distance parcourue. Ce billet devrait être disponible dès le 15 septembre.
Par ailleurs, le prix des abonnements scolaires sera réduit : il pourrait passer de 75 à 45% du plein tarif à la rentrée prochaine. Quant à l'intervention de l'état dans les frais de déplacement domicile/travail des fonctionnaires fédéraux, elle sera également revue à la hausse.
Le coût occasionné par l'ensemble de ces mesures est évalué à 440 millions de BEF. La Ministre des Transports, Isabelle Durant, rappelle que toutes ces mesures doivent faire l'objet de négociations avec la SNCB, notamment en ce qui concerne les tranches horaires pour l'application de la gratuité. (01/04/00) [d'après RTBF]

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March 2000

La Belgique et les Pays-Bas ont signé l'accord sur la liaison ferroviaire Anvers-Mönchengladbach, surnommée le "Rhin d'acier", qui constituera le lien le plus direct entre le port d'Anvers et la région de la Ruhr en Allemagne : à partir de la fin 2001, un nombre limité de trains de marchandises pourront emprunter de jour la totalité du tracé. Les transports de nuit commenceront fin 2002, avec un maximum de 15 trains par jour. Le trajet provisoire sera valable jusqu'à ce que le tracé définitif soit opérationnel. Les coûts seront à charge de la Belgique. Pour la pose du tracé définitif, les Pays-Bas assumeront une partie des coûts. Des discussions doivent encore se dérouler à ce sujet. (31/03/00) [d'après Le Soir]

Le médiateur de la SNCB a présenté son rapport annuel ce 29 mars. Il en ressort une nette diminution du nombre de plaintes en 1999 : 2.288 dossiers contre plus de 4200 en 1998.
La majorité de doléances porte sur des contestations concernant les validations des multiples systèmes d'abonnements. Les griefs sur les services des trains et leurs horaires bafoués sont en nette régression (281 plaintes au lieu de 749). Il faut rappeler que c'est en 1998 que la SNCB a lancé, avec beaucoup de difficultés, son nouveau plan de transport IC/IR.
En moyenne, 56% des plaignants obtiennent satisfaction, 24% sont "plus ou moins satisfaits" et 20% sont éconduits dans leur tentative de régler les conflits à l'amiable. (29/03/00) [d'après Le Soir et RTBF]

Le train international Milan-Bruxelles a déraillé le 9 mars vers 18h30 à la hauteur de Mirwart (près de St-Hubert) en Belgique. Il semblerait que cet accident soit imputable au bogie défectueux d'une des voitures composant le train. L'accident a fait quelques blessés légers uniquement, mais il a fallu interrompre la circulation pendant 2 jours sur la ligne 162, et dévié les trains par l'axe Athus-Meuse en traction diesel ! (12/03/00)

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February 2000

La SNCB a communiqué son résultat d'exploitation pour 1999, qui se solde par un bénéfice record : 3550 millions de BEF, soit 88 millions d'euros. La perte historique, qui s'élevait au début des années 80 à 15,4 milliards de francs, appartient désormais au passé : les 800 millions qui subsistaient encore à la fin de l'année 1998 sont entièrement apurés. Pour le secteur voyageurs, on enregistre une hausse de 3,1%. Le trafic intérieur de voyageurs augmente de 1,5%. Le trafic international augmente quant à lui de 10,2%.
En ce qui concerne le trafic de marchandises, les chiffres sont moins favorables (-1,5%) le chiffre d'affaires pour les charges complètes diminue de 3,2 %, tandis que celui d'ABX augmente de 3,8%.  [d'après SNCB]

Par ailleurs, la SNCB a procédé à une augmentation tarifaire, le 1er février. Cette hausse, de 2,65 % en moyenne, a touché principalement les billets et cartes-train mensuelles et trimestrielles. Par contre, les cartes-train annuelles ont diminué de prix, ce qui rend les abonnements annuels 25 % moins cher que les formules mensuelles. (01/02/00)

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January 2000

Deux trains de voyageurs sont entrés en collision frontale à proximité immédiate de la gare d’Herentals, le 28 janvier 2000, vers 16h50. Environ 70 voyageurs ont été blessés dans cet accident, dont cinq grièvement. Les deux trains qui sont entrés en collision sont, d’une part, un train IR d’Anvers vers Neerpelt et, d’autre part, un train IR de la relation Turnhout - Bruxelles - Manage. Le trafic a du être interrompu durant deux jours. La signalisation ayant apparemment fonctionné correctement, l'accident pourrait être dû au dépassement d'un feu rouge par un des deux trains. (29/01/00)

Un grave accident s'est produit à Stockem (près d'Arlon), le jeudi 20 janvier, vers 4h30. Un train de marchandises, constitués de 22 wagons citernes contenant du toluène tractés par un UM de motrices de la série 23, s'est engagé à plus de 100 km/h sur un aiguillage à l'entrée de la gare de triage de Stockem, alors que la vitesse permise n'est que de 40 km/h. Le convoi a immédiatement déraillé, et plusieurs wagons se sont couchés. Le conducteur est décédé sur le coup. Une enquête est en cours, mais il est acquis que l'accident est dû à la vitesse excessive du convoi. Il semblerait que le crocodile du signal imposant de ralentir la vitesse n'était pas connecté au moment de l'accident.
Les dégâts matériels sont très importants, et se chiffrent à environ 400 millions de BEF. La locomotive 2344 sera vraisemblablement radiée. La circulation des trains a dû être interrompue pendant 2 jours sur la ligne 162, et l'autoroute E 411 voisine a même dû être coupée en raison de la toxicité des produits transportés par le trains. (22/01/00)

Le passage à l'an 2000 s'est déroulé sans aucun problème : les trains ont repris le service comme prévu le 1er janvier 2000 à 6 heures. (01/01/00)

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October 1999

Fares will be 2,65 % higher (in average) as from February, 1st 2000. Mostly ticket and train cards will be more expensive (2,35 %). However, the price of the annual train cards will be reduced.
On this date, children under won't have to pay a ticket anymore to travel by train : Minister of transport, Mrs Isabelle Durant, has announced that every child will travel for free on the SNCB/NMBS network if accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Since October, 30th a new phone number is available to the SNCB/NMBS employees, 24 hours per day. This number can be called by any employee who was agressed, or injured.

The first series 77 shunter, numbered 7701 ("Alibi"), has arrived at Merelbeke depot on October, 5th. Tests will be performed on this locs before starting its service.

The Train-Tram-Bus day happened on October, 2nd. 55.000 passengers enjoyed this special day, with many activities in 11 Belgian cities, and in Luxembourg.

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May 1998

SNCB started on May 24, 1998 with its new plan of transport IC/IR 98. If Sunday proceeded well, it was not in the case first days of the week: technical incident due to the new rolling stock, breakdown of the cabin Brussels-North. A cell of crisis has also been installed in order to avoid the recurring problems that causes the new offer. The resignation of Etienne Schouppe was even asked by the Young CVP! SNCB tries to bring a solution to these problems, in particular by the lengthening of certain trains.

Monday May 25, the line 52 Boom - Puurs was reopened, after 18 years of inactivity. Trains test operated the last checks, before commercial circulation between Antwerp and Puurs, certain trains continuing their way until Sint-Niklaas. The same day, the new station of Brussels-National-Airport was inaugurated by the authorities of SNCB. From now on, 4 trains per hour join Brussels and the Airport.

The construction of new line for the high-speed trains between Liege and the German border has been decided. This option needs the construction of a tunnel at Soumagne and represents an amount of 25 billion BEF. Minister Daerden indicated that the budget should be respected, and that the line should be operational around 2005. The construction of a LGV was preferred, because the modernisation of line 37 (valley of Vesdre), although less expensive, would have required the construction of almost 150 structures and a considerable time before its finalisation. The possible choice of this solution had engaged a sharp polemic.

The Belgian Railways inaugurated their center of fast repair of the coaches, at Kinkempois (Liege). About 160 million was invested in this building which covers three ways, over a 91 meters length, at the edge of the road of Ougrée (countryside of Renory). The building site was entrusted to the companies Pieters De Gelder and Strukton- Meyer. The infrastructure should be supplemented by the transfer of the workshops of maintenance of Voroux (investment complementary to a hundred million). Currently, about fifty people are assigned to repairs and maintenance of the rolling stock on the two sites, which treat more than 7.000 coaches per annum. [according to Le Soir ]

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April 1998

On Friday April 03, 1998, SNCB has revealed its new plan of transport (IC/IR 98). If the customer should arise gaining, with a rise of the offer of more than 8% in week and a better service around Brussels, the railwaymen already expressed their dissatisfaction by paralysing the rail traffic in Wallonie and in Brussels. They denounce the staff shortage, phenomenon which according to them will worsen with the new plan.

A crumbling of almost 6000 tons of schist caused the derailment of the IR train 2144 Charleroi - Liers on Thursday April 30, 1998 around 21h10, near Bas-Oha (line 125). The train, composed of an AM66, had just left the station of Andenne when the crumbling occurred, and the signal of security thus did not have time to become red. EMU 663 rode on the enormous heap of rocks, before leaving the track. Among the 20 passengers, fifteen were lightly injured. The material damage is very significant, and SNCB will carry out the analysis of the rock to avoid others stone falls. (see pictures of the crash)

The Board of directors of SNCB gave his assent for the concluding of a 5 year old contract with the International Company of the Coach-Beds and Tourism (CIWLT) for the restoration on many international trains. It also approved the realization of works on tracks and civil engineering, constituting the first phase of the modernization of the station of Liege-Guillemins, for an amount of BEF 688 million.
It also allotted the appropriations necessary for the setting to four ways of the line 36 Brussels - Leuven [according to Le Soir]

The new station of Brussels National Airport will be fine ready for May 24: the way B was posed and firm CEI finishes the electrification of it.
Works in station of Hal advances also quickly: the second tunnel was opened to the traffic of lines 96 and 94 (thanks to the installation of a crossing junction). [contribution by Marc Grieten]

March 1998

Since March, 23th, AM 96 ride as InterCity trains between Knokke / Blankenberge - Brussels - Genk / Maastricht. Only some units ride on this relation, from Monday through Friday. Since AM 96 aren't able (yet) to ride on line 40 Liege - Maastricht, passengers have to take another train in Liege !
I11 BDx are progressively put in duty on line Ostende - Brussels - Eupen. In purpose to test them as soon as possible, the first ten units were delivered without the command equipment. These cars offer 60 more place because there is no more need of the actual Dms car.

The modernisation of the line 36c that deserves Brussels Airport is progressing well : the connexion of the new station with the line 36 has begun. Train only ride on track B, while the other track is rebuilt. On May 24th, many trains will stop in the new Airport terminal. [contribution by Marc Grieten]

HLD 6206 has been strongly damaged due to a crash on a level crossing between Oudenaarde and Ronaix on Saturday 28th March 1998 : the trailer of a truck had stopped on the tracks, and the driver didn't have time to take it away before the train arrives. The locomotive became derailed. Fortunately, there was no passenger in the train yet, and only the train driver was lighty injured. Damages are very important for HLD 6206, M2 BD 49915 and M2 AB 43271. (see pictures of the crash).

AR 4507 and HLD 5215 crashed on line 166, Monday 9th March 1998 in the early morning, between Gedinne and Vonêche. The DMU had stopped because of a technical problem and a maintenance train hauled by the 5215 ran against it. Seven passengers were lightly injured. Damages are very important, and DMU 4507 should be put out of duty. [contribution by Marc Grieten]

TGV works on line 2 have really begun now, with the beginning of the works in Leuven (new tracks), rectification of line 36, and reconstruction of "Tivoli" at Liege. Along the motorway, works are also launched for the construction of the new high speed line.

Works between Welkenraedt and the German border are progressing well : only track A is in duty, at 60 km/h. The Hammersbrücke bridge (track B) has been destroyed in February 1998, and the construcion of a new bridge for both tracks has begun. When works will be finished, speed on this line will be increased up to 160 km/h. [contribution by Marc Grieten]

February 1998

The first traction locomotive of series 13, unit 1301, has just been delivered by Gec - Alsthom / Bombardier. First tests have begun in the depot of Ronet, where a short part of the tracks is equipped for 3-phase traction. In the same time, the new I11 BDx motorized cars are progressively in duty.

On May, 24th, the traction locomotive series 18 and the international cars I 4 will come out of duty. The locomotives were built in 1973 for the traction of trains to France and Germany. Derived from the French CC 40.100, they were the longest Belgian units, and were able to ride under four voltages.

The drivers of Brussels-South and Schaerbeek depots were in strike on February 20th : they left locomotives on the tracks in the North-South Junction, which stopped the traffic in the morning. Drivers protest against the new NMBS/SNCB transport plan of may 1998.

According to the financial plan for 1998, the SNCB/NMBS should make a profit of BEF 1,189 milliard.

The direction has announced that the railways will accelerate the process of removing crossroads. This decision is the result of the crash that took place in Sclaigneaux on December, 27th 1998.

January 1998

Two students in Louvain-la-Neuve have made 10.000 false Go-Pass, and were ready to duplicate 2000 BEF notes when the railways police have arrested them. They sold the Passes at a 60% lower price than normal ! [According to Vers l'Avenir]

The SNCB / NMBS has made a profit of BEF 3 milliards for the year 1997. This result is 800 millions higher than in 1996 and is the best result since ten years. [according to the RTBF].
The financial plan for 1998 has been approved and foresees that the SNCB/NMBS should make a profit of BEF 1,182 milliards for the end of the year

December 1997

The West High Speed Line is now operational. The inauguration happened Wednesday 10 December 1997, with the King Albert II, the Queen Paola and the concerned authorities. A "royal" Thalys PBKA joined Brussels to Paris in 1h17. Sixteen daily Thalys will ride on this relation in 85 minutes, thanks to the opening of the last 71 kilometres of the "LGV Ouest". The SNCB hopes to increase the number of passengers on this relation, and foresees that the Paris-Brussels Thalys will make a profit before the end of 1998.
The new Paris - Namur and Paris - Ostende relations have been inaugurated on Friday 12 December. There are two daily Thalys trainsets on each line and in each direction. The profitability of these two lines will be evaluated after two years.
All these were made accessible to anyone on Sunday 14 December 1997. This day began the prolongation of Thalys to Köln, with 7 daily trains Brussels-Liege-Köln, operated par by the brand-new Thalys PBKA. In 2002, the East high speed line to Liege will be finished, with a budget of 40 milliards BEF. The whole line to Köln should be finished by 2005, but there still are doubts about the itinerary after Liege, notably about the realisation of the tunnel of Soumagne.
In 2005, the Belgian TGV should transport 20 millions of passengers each year.
A special report about the inauguration is available (in French) on this site.

On Saturday 27 December (11h22 am), the InterCity train 860 from Liege to Mouscron has run against a car that was blocked on a level crossing in Sclaigneaux, near Andenne (line 125). The two passengers of the car were killed. The train became derailed, and the front of the EMU 412 run against an empty house (picture). Fortunately, only 32 of the 60 passengers were lightly injured. The damaged were very important, and the reparations are evaluated to 120.000.000 BEF (one hundred millions for the replacement of the damaged EMU). The accident is due to the driver, who didn't respect the traffic lights.

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The following news come from the Archives of The European Railway News


January 1997

In March this year SNCB/NMBS hopes to order 80 new 2-car diesel trainsets from GEC-Alsthom. They have the cheapest bid, the new units will be built by CAF in Barcelona. Delivery should start in the beginning of 1999, at the end of that year the first will enter service. Up until they the passengers will have to deal with old M2 coaches and class 62 diesel locomotives. The new trainsets will probably be similar to the new DMUs for the Finnish Railways.

[contribution by Jacques Peeters]

November 1996

The construction of the high speed line in Belgium is proceeding well. Tracks are being laid from west to east: at the one hand, from Antoing in the direction of the construction base of Coucou (near Silly), at the other hand from Coucou to Lembeek, where the new line joins the old Paris-Brussels line. Electrification works are to begin soon. The provisional opening date for the LGV Belge is December 13th, 1997, with an exception for the tunnel station in Halle.

[contribution by Kees Smilde]

Octobre 1996

For the construction of 80 new DMUs, Belgian railways got offers from: ADtranz, GEC-Alsthom, Bombardier, Jenbacher Werke, Siemens Verkehrstechnik and Fiat Ferroviaria.

During July and August, domestic tickets in Belgium were issued with a 25% 'ozon discount'. Special 10 journey cards were offered with a 60% reduction. Despite a increase in patronage of 3,5 per cent, NMBS/SNCB ended up with a loss of a 500 million BEF.

Engineering works have started at Voroux on the Brussels - Liège line. A long curve will be realigned making use of the disused Voroux yards, as part of extensive engineering works which will see Voroux become the base for the building of the (Brussel - Leuven -) Bierbeek - Bierset (- Liège - Aachen) high-speed line.

By the end of this year, Belgian Railways will apply for a building permission for a railway tunnel under the historical station of Antwerp. During the engineering works, only 3 tracks out of 10 will by available. The whole project will cost about 16 billion BEF. Both the TGVs Paris-Amsterdam vv and domestic traffic will benefit from the tunnel.

[contribution by Kees Smilde]

July 1996

The first Belgian high speed line, a 15 km section south of Tournai to the French border, has been taken into service. The full high speed line to Brussels will be completed in 1998.

[contribution (from "Eisenbahn Magazin") by Tobias Köhler]

June 1996

On May 17th, the driver of a Ghent-Dinant InterCity was killed by a block of concrete, dropped from a bridge by 2 youngsters of 13 and almost 18. Brussels police managed to arrest them.

On May 18th, the Flemish Government announced that it is in favour of a high-speed line to the Netherlands alongside the E-19 highway. But, since this means more kilometres in Belgium and less in the Netherlands than in other plans, it wants substantial financial compensations of the Dutch Government and also the improvement of the "Iron Rhine", the connection Antwerp-Mönchengladbach via the Netherlands.

From the 2nd of June on Gent-De Panne is operated with EMUs instead of diesel hauled M2 stock.

All Oostende-Brussel-Welkenraedt-Eupen trains are operated with new I-11 stock now.

For the new Mons-Aulnoye shuttles, NMBS/SNCB uses a push-pull M4 rake and a class 12 loco. The new AM96 EMUs are due to take over with the winter time table or perhaps earlier.

On 11th April, a serious accident occurred near Roeselare when parts of a lorry fell across the tracks of a level crossing and was hit by a train from Zeebrugge to Kortrijk. The train was completely derailed. Three passengers were killed and 57 injured; EMUs 172, 211, 255 and 719 were severely damaged.

The introduction of Thalys TGV sets on Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam has eliminated the need for Class 25.5 trains for passenger trains. Since no agreement has yet been reached on the possible use of this class on Antwerpen-Rotterdam container shuttles, it will have no regular duties for the time being.

[contribution (from "Today's Railways") by Kees Smilde]

May 1996

The Belgian gouvernment has approved the shortened version of the investment plan of SNCB/NMBS for the years up to 2005. In total 90.1 billion Belgian francs will be spent on new rolling stock, 4.24 billion BEF for high-speed tracks and 12.27 billion BEF for new and rebuilt workshops. For the rolling stock the following time schedule is available:

[contribution (from "Eisenbahn-Revue International") by Marco van Uden]

April 1996

The first 3-car EMU class MR96 has been introduced in February. Top speed is 160 km/h, power is 1400 kW. Several trains can be coupled with a gangway almost identical to the DSB IC3 trains. The train has 45 seats 1st class and 167 seats 2nd class. 70 trains are single voltage for domestic service, 50 trains are dual voltage (3kV DC and 25kV AC 50Hz) and will be used on the lines Mons - Aulnoye, Mons - Lille, Antwerp - Lille and Knokke/ Blankenberg - Brussels - Maastricht. Delivery of the dual system trains will last until 1997, of the single system trains until 2000.

As the first type AM96 dual voltage EMUs will not be ready on the 2nd of June, NMBS/SNCB has decided to use a short rake of 3 coaches and a class 18 loco as a stop-gap measure for the Mons-Aulnoye shuttle. There are also rumours that loco 1901 will be used for this service. Starting September 22, AM 96 will take over.

163 air-conditioned Intercity coaches I11, technically very similar to the MR96, are also being delivered. 36 cars are 1st class, with 60 seats. 85 are 2nd class, with 80 seats. 21 cars have 2nd class seats and a cab. Top speed is 200 km/h. The first of these cars are already in service between Oostende and Welkenraedt, the IC trains Antwerp - Brussels - Charleroi will be changed to the new equipment too. The livery of the MR96 and I11 is light grey with a blue stripe at the bottom, red doors, black window band and yellow end doors - the same colours as the Memling and Break trains, but not in such a fancy arrangement.

With the delivery of new trains, the last EMUs AM54 (built in 1954) have been put out of service in November 1995. The 15 postal EMUs 961 to 975 will survive for now. Type AM54 two-car EMU 106 has been equiped with TBL 2, the new Belgian signalling system.

Starting this summer, there will be a direct Oostende-Lille service, operated with a push-pull rake and class 12, calling at Brugge, Kortrijk, Moeskroen, Tourcoing and Roubaix. This train will run 3 times per day in both directions and offers good connections in Kortrijk (from and to Brussels) and in Lille-Flandres (from and to Paris).

The motorrail trains between the Netherlands and France will run via Jemelle and Arlon (electric traction) instead of Gouvy (class 55 diesels).

[Contribution (from "Eisenbahn-Revue International") by Tobias Köhler and (from "Today's Railways") by Kees Smilde]

March 1996

After rumours to the contrary, CFL and NMBS/SNCB have confirmed that the electrification (at 25 kV) of Rivage-Gouvy, the missing link on the Liege- Luxemburg line, will be completed by 1999. In addition, BF 7 bilion is to be invested in the Brussels-Luxemburg line with the aim of reducing journey times to less than 2 hours.

In spite of repeated strike actions, the Belgian Governement adopted the proposals to restructure NMBS/SNCB in the period 1996-2005, including the increased state aid for rolling stock and infrastructure.

On Monday 25 February 1996, Belgian Railways presented their first new EMU, numbered 441. The first 50 ones will be dual-voltage (3kV=/25kV~), the last 70 ones only for 3kV. The nose is taken over from Danish IC-3 EMUs.

The small portable computer with which Belgian guards will be equipped is called Ivette (and not Yvette, as in ETN of februari).

[contribution (from "Today's Railways") by Kees Smilde]

February 1996

On January 9, TGV trainsets 4531 and 4533 (red painted TGV-Rs with Dutch ATB) were simultaneously presented in Brussels and Utrecht to introduce the so-called Thalys service starting June 2nd. The first real Thalys units will be used between Köln and Paris in 1997. Since January 29, red/grey TGVs can be seen between Paris and Brussels, e.g. in TGV 81.

Shortly before Christmas 1995, Belgian Railways decided to buy 60 asynchronous locos, suitable for 3kV= and 25kV~ at ACEC (belongs to GEC-Alsthom) in Charleroi, as did CFL earlier (ETN December 95). The mechanical part will resemble that of SNCF BB36000. The first AM 96 EMU has been presented at the Bombardier factory in Bruges. Its nose is just like the Danish IC-3, the interior is derived from the new Belgian I-11 coaches. Later this year NMBS/SNCB will order 79 DMUs.

Belgian train guards will be equiped with a small portable computer - called Yvette - which can calculate fares, issue tickets and give information etc.

January 1996

Starting 2nd January, the Airport-City-Express between Brussels-Airport and the Sabena terminal at Brussels Central station is extended till Brussels South station.

A temporary signalling cab has been installed at Brussels North station, all tracks are in use and all rush hour trains are running again. Brussels police does not exclude that the fire of Dec 4th (see ETN of December) was deliberately started.

The first 2-systems EMUs (AM96) will be used for services between Mons (Belgium) and Aulnoye (France) after all Brussels-Paris trains will be taking line 78 and than the LGV-Nord. Eurostar trains will stay on line 94 via Tournai and Ath.


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