255 cable thefts were recorded on the Belgian railway network in 2024 – a significant decrease from 451 incidents in 2023, Infrabel reported on Tuesday.
Wallonia remains the primary target for these thefts, accounting for nearly 60% of the cases. The provinces of Liège and Hainaut still face significant problems, with 73 and 69 incidents respectively, making up more than half (55%) of the total.
The Brussels-Capital Region also sees a high risk, with nearly one theft per week, totalling 47 incidents throughout the year. These thefts, along with many attempts causing substantial damage, have led to financial losses of over €1.6 million.
Beyond financial and human impacts, these crimes heavily affect train punctuality. In 2024, they caused a total of 10,781 minutes of cumulative delays, averaging 30 minutes a day, compared to 1 hour and 15 minutes in 2023.
To combat these issues, Infrabel is undertaking several initiatives, primarily focused on replacing copper cables with aluminium where technically possible to make theft less attractive.
The company is also enhancing theft detection using concealed devices in cable ducts that can trigger discreet alarms upon contact. Infrabel systematically files complaints with the police and prosecutes offenders. In 2024, they secured convictions in 22 cases, often resulting in prison sentences of up to two years.
Infrabel believes such prosecutions for “wilfully obstructing railway traffic” are essential due to their deterrent effect.
