BELGIUM: The consortium of Siemens Mobility and Equans completed its project to equip 2 274 km of tracks with ETCS Level 2, Siemens Mobility announced on December 15.
Lead contractor Siemens Mobility implemented and modernised ETCS Level 2 and interlocking systems, while Equans carried out on-site installation including civil engineering, electrical works, hardware deployment, cabling, and documentation. Siemens deployed its Trainguard 200 radio block centres and Simis W interlocking technology. A total of 46 interlockings, 37 radio block centres, over 19 000 balaises, and 4 536 signals were fitted.
The completed ETCS Level 2 coverage includes major hubs such as Bruges, Ghent, Hasselt, Arlon, Verviers, and Mons.
Infrastructure manager Infrabel has been working on a 10-year roll-out programme that started in 2015 and runs until the end of 2025 to equip the entire Belgian network with ETCS. Infrabel aims to achieve the installation of 2 361 km of lines with ETCS Level 2 by the end of this year, with another 2 783 km of lines being fitted with ETCS Level 1 Full Supervision, while a further 1 113 km have been fitted with ETCS Level 1 Limited Supervision.
‘Belgium is the first country to implement ETCS across a highly complex network under rolling conditions with almost no closures — setting the example Europe must follow’, said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility. ‘The on-time completion and commissioning of this project, exactly 10 years after its start, reflects the strength of our partnership with Infrabel and the consortium’s unwavering commitment. With much of Belgium’s rail network now running on ETCS Level 2, our proven signalling technology delivers the highest safety standards and a more efficient, future-ready rail system for the entire country.’
- Read our feature article written by Jochen Butinck, Chief Operating Officer of Infrabel, about a 10-year learning journey in ETCS deployment on the Belgian network in the September 2025 issue of Railway Gazette International.
