Railway plans for Antwerp and Zeebrugge ‘still on the agenda’
In order to maximise the added value of a unified port, Port of Antwerp-Bruges will seek to develop and make optimum use of the interconnectivity between the two ports, the Port of Antwerp said: “The transportation of goods by rail between the two sites will be bundled, estuary traffic will be optimised and pipeline connections will also be on the list of priorities.”
The two ports lie 80 kilometres from each other. Both ports have their specific railway connections with the European hinterland, and with Far East Asia. There are no concrete plans for new railway connections between the ports, said a spokesperson from infrastructure manager Infrabel.
However, there are ongoing projects to improve the railway network of both premises, and these projects will continue, according to Infrabel. On March 31, 2021 it will present its vision for rail transportation for the port of Antwerp-Bruges, after a year of cooperative negotiations with what was then still the port of Antwerp alone.
In general, the Belgian rail freight industry has committed to a doubling of the rail freight volumes by 2030. Infrabel has received a government fund of 75 million euro to help accomplish this: “Part of this money will be invested in Antwerp and Zeebrugge, and some of this will already be spent this year.”
For more information visit infrabel.be/en
22nd February 2021
