SNCB Service Expansion Approved
Signal
The Belgian federal government approved SNCB's 2026-2029 transport plan, targeting a 3% increase in train services.
Impact
positiveSNCB's expansion will benefit commuters in major cities like Brussels and Antwerp, while also enhancing connectivity to Brussels Airport. This could lead to increased passenger numbers and revenue for SNCB, as well as improved regional economic activity.
The Belgian federal government has officially approved the 2026-2029 transport plan for the state-owned Belgian National Railways (SNCB), which aims to increase train services by approximately 3%. This plan is part of a broader strategy outlined in SNCB's public service obligation (PSO) contract for 2023-2032, which targets a total service increase of 10% over the decade.
The upcoming expansion follows a previous transport plan (2023-2026) that successfully increased services by around 5%. The new plan will enhance connectivity to Brussels Airport Zaventem and improve links between major urban centers such as Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, and Liège. The expansion will occur in three phases, with the first phase set to be implemented on December 13, 2026, coinciding with the 2027 timetable change.
During the first phase, SNCB plans to introduce additional trains on various routes, particularly suburban services serving the four key urban areas. Enhancements will also include more weekend services, with late-evening trains added to and from Brussels on Saturdays. Notably, the new Braine Alliance station at Braine-l'Alleud will be integrated into the Brussels suburban network, further improving accessibility.
The second phase, scheduled for the 2028 timetable, will focus on strengthening services to Brussels Airport, including early-morning trains that will allow passengers from Bruges, Ghent, and Brussels to reach the airport as early as 03:30. Additionally, the integration of Moensberg and Linkebeek stations into a single interchange is planned to streamline connections within the Brussels suburban network.
The final phase of the program, set for the 2029 timetable change, will see further increases in train frequencies. However, SNCB has acknowledged that successful implementation of this ambitious plan hinges on several critical factors. These include the timely completion of necessary railway infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements, as well as securing sufficient train paths on the network. Competing requests from other operators have already led to capacity constraints on certain routes, notably between Antwerp and Brussels.
To support the planned service expansion, SNCB has placed a significant framework order worth €1.7 billion with CAF for an initial batch of 180 new trains. These trains are expected to be delivered starting in 2030, with the potential for the order to be extended to a total of 380 trains. The timely delivery of this new fleet will be essential for SNCB to meet its service expansion goals.
