New Eindhoven-Brussels rail link aims to boost cross-border ties

Dutch and Belgian ministers have signed a deal to build a new rail link between Eindhoven and Brussels to strengthen cross-border economic ties.

The so-called Brainport-Brussel line will mainly use existing or former local lines, but laying new tracks is also an option.

Caretaker infrastructure minister Thierry Aartsen said the plan would make travel between Noord-Brabant and Flanders faster and easier.

“If you look at the border region, there is no way of getting to Belgium between Breda and Maastricht,” Aartsen, who signed the agreement with his Belgian counterpart Jean-Luc Crucke, told the Telegraaf.

“If you want to get between two places you often have to change three or four times. It should be possible to get from Eindhoven to Antwerp or Brussels in one go.”

The Dutch government wants to improve infrastructure in the border region with Belgium and Germany through projects such as the rail line linking Aachen, Maastricht and Liège, the high-speed rail line connecting Schiphol airport to Antwerp.

The Netherlands and Belgium have also unveiled plans to build a goods line between Terneuzen, in Zeeland, and Genk, which would carry 15% of goods arriving at the North Sea Port and connect Zeeuws-Vlaanderen to the Belgian city’s international rail network.