Benelux appeals for one tri-country rail network

The Benelux Parliament has proposed the idea of combining the railways of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg into one “domestic” network. It also calls for the creation of a Benelux rail agenda, which would contain a number of concrete initiatives to improve the eastern and western railway connections between the Netherlands and Belgium, and between Brussels and Luxembourg.

In the recommendation, presented yesterday during the plenary session in Brussels, the parliament put pressure on the national rail companies of the three countries to improve cross-border connections through better cooperation. Train travel between the three neighbouring Benelux countries should be considered domestic traffic, according to the parliament, so that domestic rail fares apply.

The connection between Breda, Roosendaal and Antwerp requires an appropriate alternative to the failed Fyra, as the current IC direct train takes too long and is known to be unreliable. The two eastern connections are also insufficient, such as the line between Weert, Hamont and Antwerp which is limited to freight.

Finally, the existing line between Brussels and Luxembourg should be upgraded to reduce the long travel time. The proposed Benelux rail agenda fits into the ambition to improve cross-border links on a European scale, reads the recommendation.