The Oosterweel Link will provide a third motorway link over the Scheldt River, but the ring road will be closed during construction. The new link is scheduled to open in 2026.
Lineas will increase its weekly capacity from 2600 containers to 5300, which it says will allow more freight to be switched from road to rail, reducing congestion and easing the effects of the closure.
Capacity will be increased on services to La Louvière, Genk and Zeebrugge, and Lineas is also establishing new connections to Terneuzen and Ghent. The services link the docks on the left and right banks of the river via Lineas’ freight hub in Antwerp.
“Our customers are actively seeking solutions to get their freight out of traffic,” says Lineas CCO, Mr Sam Bruynseels. “With these trains, we are offering them the option to put their freight on rail earlier. That way, we aim to optimise the freight traffic between the port and inland Belgium and Europe and at the same time improve mobility.”
Lineas also unveiled a special livery on one of its Traxx electric locomotives, designed by driver Mr Kris De Smedt, to mark the announcement.
