Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of Europe

BELGIUM (Belgique/Belgie)

Lines with obscure or sparse passenger services

This list is based on the timetable dated 11 December 2005 to 9 December 2006, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations used are explained in the General Information document.

The dates of operation of "tourist trains", with train numbers prefixed ICT, are normally shown on the fold-out sheet at the front of the SNCB/NMBS timetable.

Last update for this page: 16 April 2007.

Obscure services

Bruxelles/Brussel — Antwerpen via line 27 [25] (8B2-8B3) BE06/1

This section is effectively four-tracked throughout. However, the two pairs of tracks follow differing 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:

	Schaarbeek - Y Machelen: services via BE06/14
	Y Machelen - Vilvoorde {1}: table 26 trains; services via BE06/14
	Vilvoorde - Y Weerde {1}: table 26, IC B (SSuX), and Thalys trains; services via BE06/14
	Y Weerde - Weerde - Mechelen (low level) south end: IC B (SSuX), and Thalys trains; stopping trains on tables 25 and 26 calling at Weerde
	Y Weerde - Hofstade - Y Prinsenhoek [line 27B]: table 26 stopping trains between Mechelen and Vilvoorde calling at Muizen; services via BE06/14
	Y Prinsenhoek - Muizen - Mechelen (low level) north end [lines 27B, 53A]: table 26 stopping trains between Mechelen and Vilvoorde calling at Muizen
	Mechelen (low level) - Mechelen-Nekkerspoel: IC B (SSuX), IR a, and Thalys trains
	Mechelen-Nekkerspoel - Y Sint-Katelijne-Waver: IC B (SSuX), IR a, IR g (SSuX) and Thalys trains
	Y Sint-Katelijne-Waver - Y Duffel {1}: IC B (SSuX), IR a, IR g (SSuX), and Thalys trains
	Y Duffel - Kontich junction {1}: IC B (SSuX), IR a, and Thalys trains
	Kontich junction - Hove {1}: services via BE06/5 and BE06/6
	Hove - Y Liersesteenweg: services via BE06/5 and BE06/6
	Y Liersesteenweg - Y Drabstraat: see BE06/5
	Y Drabstraat - Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 5 and 8: table 15 trains (except those via BE06/7), and table 25 trains via BE06/5
	Y Liersesteenweg - Y Krijgsbaan [line 27A]: see BE06/6
	Y Krijgsbaan - Antwerpen-Berchem platforms 1 and 4 [line 27A]: table 15 trains via BE06/7, and table 25 trains via BE06/6

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

Antwerpen-Noordderdokken - Antwerpen docks area [12] (8B3) BE06/2

The station at Antwerpen-Haven, in the south yards alongside the traction depot, was opened during a period of extensive road-works in Antwerpen. The road-works have been completed, but a service (albeit more restricted) is still provided between Antwerpen-Berchem and Antwerpen-Haven at Monday to Friday peak hours - full details are shown in table 12.

In addition, this route (part of line 27A) has been used by staff trains into the Antwerpen docks complex, with services from Antwerpen-Berchem shown on the departure screens there (but not on the printed lists). In the 2004/5 timetable, the 05:28, 13:28 and 21:28 departures from Antwerpen-Berchem continued beyond Antwerpen-Haven to complete a clockwise circuit via the north side yards calling at additional staff halts. These trains are not advertised in the 2005/6 timetable, and further information would be welcome.

Antwerpen-Centraal avoiding line: Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Noord Berchem) — Antwerpen-Oost [12] (8B3) BE06/3

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. It is used by trains on table 12 not booked to call at Antwerpen-Centraal, including IC B (SSuX) and Thalys services.

Antwerpen-Berchem — Antwerpen-Zuid (Y West Berchem) via relief route [52, 59] (8B3) BE06/4

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 and arrival sheets at Antwerpen-Berchem. Details for the 2005/6 timetable period are shown below - these may not be complete, and further information would be welcome.

Hove (Y Liersesteenweg) — Mortsel (Y Drabstraat) [15, 25] (8B3) BE06/5

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 booked to be used by the following service, and may be used by others booked via BE06/6 if trains are running out of course.

Hove (Y Liersesteenweg) — Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Krijgsbaan) [25] (8B3) BE06/6

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 normally used by all IC B (SSuX) and Thalys trains. It is also used by other trains when indicated on the platform departure and arrival sheets at Antwerpen-Berchem. Details for the 2004/5 timetable period are shown below - information for the current timetable period would be welcome.

Boechout (Y Aubry) — Antwerpen-Berchem (Y Krijgsbaan) [15] (8B3) BE06/7

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 is most likely to be used by trains between the Lier line and Antwerpen-Oost or beyond.

Sint-Katelijne-Waver — Muizen [25, 53a] (8B2) BE06/8

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.

Note that the opposite working, SuO P 8220 Neerpelt - 20:47 Lier - Heverlee, reverses at Lier and runs via Aarschot.

Aarschot avoiding line: Begijnendijk (Y Noord Aarschot) — Langdorp (Y Oost Aarschot) [16, 35] (8B2) BE06/10

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

Haren (Y Haren-Heide) — Diegem (Y Diegem-West) [26, 36] (10B2) BE06/11

This route (line 36/3) is a flying connection between the Bruxelles/Brussel - Leuven line, and the Halle - Y Machelen line around the east side of Bruxelles/Brussel.

Delta (Y Etterbeek) — Boondaal (Y Boondaal) [26] (10B1) BE06/12

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) BE06/13

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 by certain P trains.

Hever (Y Hever) — Hofstade (Y Prinsenhoek) [36, 53a] (8B2) BE06/14

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.

IC E SSuX trains (Tongeren - Knokke/Blankenberge) are booked to be overtaken between Bruxelles/Brussel and Leuven in either direction, and appear to run via this route, but are subject to diversion via the direct route if trains are running out of course. They may also be transferred to the direct route when the new four-track section between Diegem and Herent is brought into use fully.

Leuven avoiding line: Wijnmaal (Y Holsbeek) — Wezemaal (Y Dijlebrug) [35, 53a] (8B2) BE06/15

This curve (line 53/1) enables trains between the Mechelen and Aarschot directions to avoid reversal at Leuven.

Herent — Leuven via "fast" line viaduct [36] (8B2) BE06/16

Between Herent and Leuven, the recently-constructed "fast" line (part of line 36N) follows a route on a viaduct to the west of the "slow" line (the original line 36). Line 36 makes a burrowing junction with line 36N at each end of this section. "Fast" line 36N is typically used by trains via Leuven platforms 1-4, including Thalys, ICE and IC A services (but not SSuX IC E - see BE06/14). "Slow" line 36 is typically used by trains to or from Leuven platforms A-C and 5 upwards, including IR, CR and L services.

Leuven — Heverlee (Y Tivoli) via diveunder line [139] (8B2) BE06/17

Most trains on the Leuven - Ottignies route use the direct connection (part of line 139) into platforms 1 or D at Leuven. The following trains, however, may use the diveunder line (line 139/1) to reach higher-numbered platforms.

Leuven - Ans via high speed line [36] (8B2-9B2) BE06/18

This route, line 2, is used by trains running non-stop between Leuven and Liège Guillemins, including Thalys, ICE and IC A services.

Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman (Y Josaphat) - Schaarbeek [161] (10B2) BE06/19

Trains north-west of Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman normally use the line into Bruxelles-Nord/Brussel-Noord. However, some peak-hour trains run to/from Schaarbeek via this route (part of line 161), as identified by numbered column-head notes (with Schaarbeek timing) in table 161. This line is accessible only from platforms 3 and 4 at Schaarbeek.

Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman (Y Josaphat) — Bockstael (Y Zennebrug) [50, 161] (10B2) BE06/20

Most trains north of Bruxelles/Brussel-Schuman use the line into Bruxelles-Nord/Brussel-Noord, but this route (line 161/1) provides a direct connection to the Jette line. On SSuX it is used by hourly CR trains between Schuman and Jette, and by other peak-hour trains via Jette, identified by numbered column-head note (with Schuman or Luxembourg/Luxemburg timing) in table 50.

Jette — Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid (via Bruxelles-Ouest) [60] (10B1-10B2) BE06/21

This route (lines 28 and 28/1) around the west side of Bruxelles/Brussel enables trains to run between Jette and Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid without using the main line via Bruxelles-Central/Brussel-Centraal.

Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid (Y Sint-Katherina-Lombeek) — Gent (Y Welle) ("new" main line between Bruxelles/Brussel and Gent) [50] (8A2) BE06/22

This route, part of line 50A, is used by trains between Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid and Gent-Sint-Pieters not calling at Denderleeuw.

Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid (Y Sint-Katherina-Lombeek) — Liedekerke [50] (8A2) BE06/23

This flying junction (line 50A/2) is the connection between the east end of Denderleeuw station and the "new" main line to Bruxelles/Brussel. It is used by trains shown non-stop between Denderleeuw or Liedekerke and Bruxelles/Brussel on table 50.

Denderleeuw — Gent (Y Welle) [50] (8A2) BE06/24

This flying junction (line 50A/3) is the connection between the west end of Denderleeuw station and the "new" main line to Gent. It is used by trains shown non-stop between Denderleeuw and Gent-Sint-Peters on table 50.

Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid or Denderleeuw (Y Meulewijk) - Melle (Y Melle, Blok 27) [50] (8A2) BE06/25

This flying junction (line 50A/4) is the connection between the "new" main line towards Bruxelles/Brussel and the Zottegem line, at the eastern end of the Gent area. It is used by trains shown non-stop between Bruxelles/Brussel or Denderleeuw and Melle on table 50.

Merelbeke (Y Oost Ledeberg) - Gent-Dampoort (Y Noord Ledeberg, Blok 29) [50, 59] (8A2) BE06/26

This curve (part of line 58) allows trains to run direct between the Bruxelles/Brussel and Antwerpen directions, avoiding Gent-Sint-Pieters station.

Gent-Sint-Pieters — Drongen (Y Snepbrug) [50a] (7B2) BE06/27

This is the more northerly route (line 50A/6) between the west end of Gent-Sint-Pieters station and the Oostende main line, running to the north of the line 75 tracks. It is used by trains to or from the lower-numbered platforms at Gent-Sint-Pieters - hourly by eastbound IC G trains (Oostende to Antwerpen), and by the following:

Oostkamp (Y Oostkamp) — Brugge [50a] (7B2) BE06/28

This is a grade separated junction (line 50A/5) linking the Gent main line to the northern platforms at Brugge, avoiding confliction with the Kortrijk line. It is believed it was used by most Monday to Friday local services between Gent and Brugge; during the current period of engineering work at Brugge station, the pattern of usage is unclear, and may vary as the works progress.

Saint-Ghislain — Ville-Pommeroeul (relief passenger line) [78] (8A1) BE06/29

This spur from Saint-Ghislain's Quiévrain line platforms (3, 4 and 5) to the Tournai line runs independently on the south side of the main lines. The following train may use this route - further information would be welcomed.

Antoing LGV spur: Y Maubray — Y Antoing [78, 118] (7B1) BE06/30

This spur (line 1/3) links the Mons - Tournai line to the LGV Nord Europe, towards Lille and Paris. It is used by Thalys trains between Liège and Paris, booked to call at Mons:

Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid — Forest-Midi (via Petite Ile/Klein Eiland) [96] (10B1) BE06/31

This line (line 96A), to the west of the main line and Forest/Vorst carriage sidings and loco depot, provides an alternative route to avoid conflicting movements at the south end throat of Midi station for trains using the lower numbered platforms there. It is normally used by all Eurostar, Thalys and TGV services. At Forest, the southbound line passes over a flyover (the saut de mouton de Forest), rejoining the main line at Y Ruisbroek.

The use of this route via Petite Ile is expected to cease upon completion of the saut de mouton du Midi, a flyover which will give more direct access between Midi/Zuid station and the LGV tracks at Forest.

Bracquegnies (Y La Paix) — La Louvière-Centre (8B1) [118] BE06/32

This curve (part of line 118) has a very limited service:

Flemalle-Haute - Kinkempois — Liège-Bressoux (Y Garde-Dieu) (9B1) BE06/33

This route (lines 125A and 125B) is a south to north connection between the Namur and Maastricht lines to the east of Liège-Guillemins. Car carrier trains between the Netherlands and France may operate via this route to avoid reversal at Liège-Guillemins.

Flemalle-Haute - Kinkempois — Angleur (Y Aguesses) (9B1) BE06/34

This route (lines 125A and 37/1) is a south to east connection between the Namur and Aachen lines to the east of Liège-Guillemins. In previous years, it has been used by car carrier trains between Germany and France. Information for the current timetable period would be welcome.

Angleur (Y Aguesses) — Liège-Bressoux (Y Garde-Dieu) (9B1) BE06/35

This curve (line 40/1) is an east to north connection between the Rivage ( - Libramont / Luxembourg) line and the Maastricht line, to the east of Liège-Guillemins. In previous years, it has been used by car carrier trains to and from Bressoux. Information for the current timetable period would be welcome.

Halanzy (Y Aubange) - Longwy (Mont-St.Martin) [France] (17B1, not shown) BE06/36

This is a new chord line a few km long near Athus, to permit direct operation between Virton and Longwy. This entry duplicates FR04/129A.

Deletions since previous edition:

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than nine trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday

Last complete update: 16 June 2006. Subsequent amendments: BE06/4, 9, 11, 14 & 17 amended, BE06/25 & 26 headings amended, BE06/36 deleted (19 September 2006); BE06/14 amended (22 September 2006); BE06/9 deleted (3 October 2006); BE06/36 added (11 December 2006); operator details amended in BE06/33 (16 April 2007).

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