Mechelen Rail Bypass, Infrabel

Mechelen Railway Bypass almost completed, last piece for Belgian high-speed network

source: Infrabel

Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel will carry out the finalising works on the Mechelen Railway Bypass in the upcoming weeks. On December 14th, operator NMBS will take the associated platforms 11 and 12 into service. The extra tracks and platforms should increase the capacity around Mechelen and it is an important infrastructure upgrade for the completion of the high-speed rail network in Belgium.

The Railway Bypass is a new ring track around the Belgian city of Mechelen of 3.2 kilometers long. It includes two additional tracks and two new platforms at the rear entrance of the station, which is covered with an arch structure and equipped with lifts and escalators for the travellers.

High-speed network

The Bypass connects to the Diabolo link, by which people can easily travel to Brussels Airport. The Rail Bypass will further optimize mobility to and from the Belgian capital and ensure a smoother flow on the strategic rail link Brussels – Mechelen – Antwerp – The Netherlands.

The Mechelen Rail Bypass is not only important for domestic, but also for international train traffic. This new infrastructure in Mechelen is the last missing piece of the puzzle for completing the high-speed network in Belgium, says Infrabel. In the future, after the platform tracks 7, 8, 9 and 10 have been completed, high-speed trains such as the Thalys, Eurostar, and Benelux will be able to travel at 160 kilometres per hour.

Construction

The project is the result of a collaboration between various parties, including Infrabel, TUC RAIL and Belgian National Railways NMBS. The construction works started in June 2013 and included the construction of the track bed, railway verges, retaining walls, foundations and the construction of six railway bridges. These works were completed in early 2018. After that, TUC RAIL started with the construction of the new rail infrastructure. For the construction of the rail bypass sound-absorbing rail pads were used to reduce noise of trains. Also, new platform tracks and new overhead lines were installed.

The final part of the Rail Bypass immediately marks the beginning of further renovation works. After 14 December, the transformation of the station itself will start, whereby platforms 1 to 10, among other things, will be gradually renovated.

Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

1 comment op “Mechelen Railway Bypass almost completed, last piece for Belgian high-speed network”

Rian van der Borgt|09.12.20|13:50

Unfortunately, you fell for Infrabel’s fairy tales.
This bypass is far from completed. Still missing is the flyover north of Mechelen to connect the new and the old railways lines (25 and 25N). Without this flyover, line capacity hardly increases.
Only Mechelen has 2 extra platforms, which gives some (much needed) flexibility for the engineering works in the station.

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Mechelen Railway Bypass almost completed, last piece for Belgian high-speed network | RailTech.com
Mechelen Rail Bypass, Infrabel

Mechelen Railway Bypass almost completed, last piece for Belgian high-speed network

source: Infrabel

Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel will carry out the finalising works on the Mechelen Railway Bypass in the upcoming weeks. On December 14th, operator NMBS will take the associated platforms 11 and 12 into service. The extra tracks and platforms should increase the capacity around Mechelen and it is an important infrastructure upgrade for the completion of the high-speed rail network in Belgium.

The Railway Bypass is a new ring track around the Belgian city of Mechelen of 3.2 kilometers long. It includes two additional tracks and two new platforms at the rear entrance of the station, which is covered with an arch structure and equipped with lifts and escalators for the travellers.

High-speed network

The Bypass connects to the Diabolo link, by which people can easily travel to Brussels Airport. The Rail Bypass will further optimize mobility to and from the Belgian capital and ensure a smoother flow on the strategic rail link Brussels – Mechelen – Antwerp – The Netherlands.

The Mechelen Rail Bypass is not only important for domestic, but also for international train traffic. This new infrastructure in Mechelen is the last missing piece of the puzzle for completing the high-speed network in Belgium, says Infrabel. In the future, after the platform tracks 7, 8, 9 and 10 have been completed, high-speed trains such as the Thalys, Eurostar, and Benelux will be able to travel at 160 kilometres per hour.

Construction

The project is the result of a collaboration between various parties, including Infrabel, TUC RAIL and Belgian National Railways NMBS. The construction works started in June 2013 and included the construction of the track bed, railway verges, retaining walls, foundations and the construction of six railway bridges. These works were completed in early 2018. After that, TUC RAIL started with the construction of the new rail infrastructure. For the construction of the rail bypass sound-absorbing rail pads were used to reduce noise of trains. Also, new platform tracks and new overhead lines were installed.

The final part of the Rail Bypass immediately marks the beginning of further renovation works. After 14 December, the transformation of the station itself will start, whereby platforms 1 to 10, among other things, will be gradually renovated.

Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

1 comment op “Mechelen Railway Bypass almost completed, last piece for Belgian high-speed network”

Rian van der Borgt|09.12.20|13:50

Unfortunately, you fell for Infrabel’s fairy tales.
This bypass is far from completed. Still missing is the flyover north of Mechelen to connect the new and the old railways lines (25 and 25N). Without this flyover, line capacity hardly increases.
Only Mechelen has 2 extra platforms, which gives some (much needed) flexibility for the engineering works in the station.

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.