Belgium
The first public railway in Belgium, between Brussels and Mechelen, was opened on
5th May, 1835. Like many early Belgian railways, it was owned and operated by the
State. A few lines were developed by private companies, but the last of these had
been absorbed into the State system by 1948.
Besides the main line railways, there were also a number of minor railways and
tramways (the "Vicinal"). De Kusttram, the coastal tramway through Ostend, is the
principal survivor of this network.
Under EU regulations, train operation and infrastructure costs must be separately
accountable. Belgium, like many other European countries, has chosen to implement this
by spinning off a separate infrastructure company (Infrabel). B-rail remains the major
operator of passenger and freight trains. B-rail and Infrabel form part of SNCB Holdings,
which is also part owner of the international operators Eurostar and Thalys.
A separate page deals with station names
in Belgium.
Main Line Railways
Metro, trams and interurban
- MIVB/STIB Brussels metro and
trams
- De Kusttram coastal tramway
from Knokke to Adinkerke via Ostend (Site in Dutch)
- De Lijn trams in Antwerp and Gent
(Site in Dutch)
- TEC trams in Charleroi
(Site in French)
- Hasselt proposed regional tram system, extending as far as
Maastricht in the Netherlands (No website located at present,
but see the following documents, in Dutch:
Tourist and enthusiast railways
- Chemin de Fer des 3
Vallées standard gauge tourist line from Mariembourg to Treignes (about 12km).
A diesel railcar operates on most days during the summer months, with steam trains on
busier days
- Chemin de Fer du
Bocq standard gauge tourist line between Ciney and Purnode
(about 14km), with several intermediate stations. Possible future
extension to Yvoir, a further 6km. Steam or diesel hauled. Operates
Sundays and public holidays from late June to October
(Site in French and Dutch)
- BVS
steam museum and tourist railway between Baasrode and Puurs, with a diesel railcar feeder
from the main line station at Dendermonde; a total distance of about 14km.
- RRR 3km line of 600mm gauge
from Rebecq to Rognon. Steam and diesel hauled (Site in
French)
- Stoom Centrum Maldegem
museum and tourist railway. Steam and diesel hauled standard gauge trains normally operate
between Maldegem and Eeklo (about 10km), although when last checked services were terminating
short of Eeklo during station reconstruction. A 600mm gauge line operates between Maldegem
and Donk (about 4km, on the trackbed of the former line to Brugge).
Steam and diesel hauled.
- TTA tourist
operation on a 10km section of the former "Vicinal" between Erezée and
Dochamps (Site in French and Dutch)
- Han-sur-Lesse unique
metre gauge line with diesel powered tramcars running between the town and the famous Han Caves,
a distance of some 5km (Site in French and Dutch)
- The Brussels Tram
Museum offers rides in historic trams over the Brussels network.
Funicular
- Spa has a modern funicular serving the Thermal
Centre. Like many funiculars, it has two cars, but in this case
one car is for the use of the general public, while the other is
reserved for clients of the Centre (Site in French and Dutch,
contains little information relating to funicular)
