Sint-Niklaas (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Train services between Melsele and Sint-Niklaas will be suspended on August 23, 2025, and Aug 24, 2025, for track, switch, signalling, and overhead line upgrades by Infrabel, with replacement buses operating.
As GVA News reported, train services between Melsele and Sint-Niklaas will be completely suspended over the weekend of Saturday, August 23, 2025, and Sunday, August 24, 2025. Infrabel, the company responsible for railway infrastructure in Belgium, announced that it will carry out extensive maintenance work on the line.
Thomas Baeken, spokesperson for Infrabel, said the works are concentrated around the Sint-Niklaas East track group. Teams will replace the old rail track groups and switches in this important section of the railway. Crews will be using special trains and maintenance vehicles.
Why are Melsele–Sint-Niklaas trains suspended Aug 23–24 for Infrabel upgrades?
The renewal of infrastructure work involves renovating the track and refurbishing the overhead electric wires that power the trains. The work is critical, Infrabel says, to improve safety, reliability, and capacity in the railway. Commuters are forced to organise alternatives because no trains will run throughout the scheduled work.
The signalling system is undergoing maintenance on the Melsele–Sint-Niklaas line. NMBS is working simultaneously on the foundations for new lighting poles on the platforms. The timeliness, safety, and quality of service for rail infrastructure is enhanced by these measures.
To maintain travel options, NMBS replacement buses will operate between Sint-Niklaas and Zwindrecht. These buses will also stop at the Zwindrecht-Dor tram stop, where passengers with a De Lijn train ticket can connect to tram 3 to reach Antwerp Central Station.
There will also be several other trains, which will be diverted or have limited stops at stations during this work. The railway company recommends that all customers use the journey planner to confirm plans before travelling.
In 2022, Infrabel carried out a major weekend track renewal between Sint-Niklaas and Antwerp, where old rails, switches, and overhead lines were replaced. During that period, trains were replaced with bus services, and some trains were diverted to maintain connections.
Another project occurred in 2021 on the Sint-Niklaas–Lokeren section, which included track, signalling, and platform upgrades. These concentrated works were scheduled over weekends to minimise long-term disruption while upgrading infrastructure for safety and efficiency.
