Infrabel, Belgium's rail infrastructure manager, will borrow up to €1 billion to accelerate various priority projects to increase the rail network's capacity. The funding will go towards key projects such as the completion of the RER, AXE 3 (Ottignies-Luxembourg border), and Ghent-Bruges lines, and the development of connections to major ports such as Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp.
The decision, approved by Infrabel's Board of Directors, aims to secure funding from several financial institutions in two tranches to facilitate essential investment in rail infrastructure. The first tranche of €800 million will be activated from 2025.
These infrastructure efforts are part of Infrabel's comprehensive long-term plan, an investment strategy amounting to €16.4 billion over the next decade (2023-2032). This initiative aims to address network improvements and operational needs, ensuring the stability and reliability of rail services for the foreseeable future.
The decision, approved by Infrabel's Board of Directors, aims to secure funds from several financial institutions in two tranches to facilitate essential investments in railway infrastructure. The first tranche of €800 million will be activated from 2025.
These infrastructure efforts are part of Infrabel's comprehensive long-term plan, an investment strategy amounting to €16.4 billion over the next decade (2023-2032). This initiative aims to address network improvements and operational needs, ensuring the stability and reliability of rail services for the foreseeable future.
Jan Cornillie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Infrabel, underlined the importance of these initiatives to meet the growing needs of railway operators. Meanwhile, Benoit Gilson, CEO of Infrabel, underlined the importance of the loan in achieving the objectives set out in the investment plan, in particular the completion of key projects such as the RER and the expansion of key ports.
“After years of under-investment and budget cuts, our rail companies are now on an ambitious and, above all, secure funding trajectory for the years ahead. New investments will be made to make the train the key element of our future mobility and achieve the objective of increasing the number of people and the volume of goods transported by rail,” said Georges Gilkinet, Federal Minister for Mobility.
