Belgium diverts EUR 124.5m from two delayed rail projects
BELGIUM: Belgian infrastructure manager Infrabel has redirected EUR 124.5m from two stalled projects — Rail Ghent-Terneuzen and the Antwerpen-Berchem redevelopment — into a new investment package backed by European subsidies.
Transport minister Jean-Luc Crucke confirmed the reallocation at a press conference 24 April, citing delays that push both original projects to 2030 at the earliest and partly beyond 2032.
Infrabel is redistributing the freed capital across battery infrastructure, port connectivity, station accessibility and ETCS safety upgrades — leaving Rail Ghent-Terneuzen, a key link on the Belgian-Dutch freight corridor, without confirmed funding before 2030.
Capital shifts from freight corridor to wider programme
Rail Ghent-Terneuzen loses EUR 87.5m and Antwerpen-Berchem loses EUR 37m.
The new programme draws EUR 52m in European subsidies, covering battery charging infrastructure, port rail connectivity, station accessibility upgrades and ETCS rollout.
Rail Ghent-Terneuzen’s delay removes a planned capacity intervention from the Belgian-Dutch corridor until at least 2030 — and partially until after 2032.