Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The SNCB plans to expand their train operations in 2025 by returning 220 trains and establishing additional late services from Antwerp. The Puurs to Antwerp-Berchem rail service will face disruption from March 1-9, when bridge maintenance activities take place.
The SNCB Board of Directors has declared support for their 2025 train schedule that brings additional train services and reinstates retired trains to their routes. An Infrabel bridge repair operation will lead to a service delay between Puurs and Antwerpen-Berchem between March 1 and March 9, 2025.
The suburban S-train running between Puurs and Antwerp with service stops at Essen will operate every two hours throughout Saturday afternoons. Late trains will start their service from Antwerp after 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays from the end of 2024. Due to crossing rail works, the Roosendaal and Kapellen train route will operate by bus service on March 8-9, 2025.
From March 1 to March 9, 2025, Infrabel will conduct bridge construction at the Bovenvliet River along the Schelle to Hemiksem border, which will halt all train service connecting Puurs to Antwerp-Berchem. Passengers will see alternative bus transportation as a substitute solution for the duration of these works. The bridge repair operation will initiate its work on February 21.
Railway problems occurred on February 3, 2025, on the Roosendaal – Antwerpen line that led to service interruptions. Antwerp-Berchem train service between Roosendaal and Essen operated without interruption after resolving the railway issue.
What is the background of these train services?
The SNCB’s Board of Directors confirmed its train offer plans for 2025 through a renewed decision made after cancelling previous arrangements. The board wants the Minister to present the offer to the Council of Ministers for their approval.
The rail service will launch according to the 2023-2026 Transport Plan starting from December 15, 2024, to boost train-km operations by 2% beyond the 2024 implementation of 1% train-km increases. The number of trains returned to service exceeds 220 because of the previous staffing shortages. Train supply will grow by 10% throughout the upcoming 2032 period.
