Railway works to disrupt Brussels traffic this autumn

Such a move would have a major impact on commuter traffic to the capital and affect one in four travellers who ride a train to Brussels in the morning. De Tijd puts the number of affected travellers at 68,000.

Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit told VRT that the renovation works are indispensable to ensuring timely and safe train travel. “We are after all talking about the busiest junction in our railway network. Approximately one-third of all passenger trains use the North-South connection,” he said. Petit also emphasised that not all peak hour trains will be scrapped.

A NMBS working group is already examining how to lessen the impact of the planned works on commuters. One of the scenarios under consideration is to reroute trains via the Schuman, Schaarbeek or Brussels-West stations – this would allow 20,000 of the 60,000 affected travellers to get to Brussels in spite of the works. Another option being considered is to encourage travellers to take an earlier or later train than their usual one. The working group is expected to deliver its recommendations mid-August.

But public transport users’ organisation TreinTramBus told VRT it can already see the writing on the wall. “We fear that travellers won’t receive proper information that explains how they can get to their destination via another route.”

Photo: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck