Infrabel is set to renovate the railway line leading to Brussels Airport, with the project costing a total of €9.2 million and divided into two phases.
The rail infrastructure management company announced the figures during a press visit on Tuesday.
The renovation focuses on the connection between Brussels Airport station and the Brussels-Leuven line. No trains will be able to use this junction during the works.
This upgrade is essential "if we want to continue offering quality infrastructure," said Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Sacré. The tracks date back to the late 1990s, and some of the sleepers are still wooden.
The first phase of the project will last until 21 February, including the weekend of 1 and 2 March. During this time, two switches, 600 metres of track, and 1,200 metres of rail will be replaced.
Despite the works, the airport will remain accessible by train from the north (via Mechelen) and the Diabolo connection. Instead of the usual 330 daily trains, only 225 will stop at the airport per day.
Passengers from Liège, Namur, Hasselt, or Leuven will no longer have a direct train to Brussels Airport. The EuroCity train from Brussels to Rotterdam will also not serve the airport station. There will be fewer trains on other routes as well. To compensate, more trains will serve Zaventem station, where passengers can transfer to a bus to the airport.
The second phase is expected to start in November and will last for three weeks. During this phase, five switches, 800 metres of track, and 1,200 metres of rail will be replaced.
According to the latest data from SNCB, Brussels Airport station ranks among the 15 busiest stations in the country, with an average of 9,944 passengers boarding there on weekdays.
