Infrabel, the Belgian railway network manager, has initiated a substantial renovation project for the high-speed line connecting Brussels and Paris. This extensive undertaking, with a budget of 310 million euros, will be implemented in stages over the next ten years, ultimately leading to a complete overhaul of the high-speed infrastructure.
The first phase of the works, which began recently, focuses on a 17.6-kilometer section between Leuze and Brugelette. During this phase, traffic on the high-speed line will be temporarily suspended until August 30th. Trains traveling to Lille and Paris will be rerouted via traditional lines, resulting in an estimated delay of approximately thirty minutes.
The decision to renovate the line, which was inaugurated in 1997, was prompted by the emergence of cracks in the concrete sleepers. To carry out the work efficiently, Infrabel has enlisted the services of the Austrian company Swietelsky, which possesses a specialised factory train exceeding a kilometre in length. This impressive train, operational around the clock and manned by 70 workers in shifts, can renovate 180 meters of track per hour.
The first phase of the project will involve laying 35.2 kilometers of new rails, installing approximately 30,000 new sleepers, and replacing nearly 5,500 tons of ballast. Had the aging sleepers not been addressed, Infrabel would have been forced to reduce the speed limit on the line to 170 km/hour, significantly impacting travel times.
The Brussels-Paris high-speed line is the first of its kind in Belgium, and its renovation is a priority for Infrabel. The company plans to extend the renovation efforts to the three other high-speed lines in the country in the future.
In addition to replacing the tracks and sleepers, Infrabel will also take this opportunity to clean storm basins and upgrade cables and various signalling components.
