First conventional railway line in Belgium equipped with ETCS 06-03-2012
Infrabel and SNCB today carried out the first ETCS (European Train Control System) journey on the Brussels – Leuven railway line (line 36). From now on, passenger trains equipped with the European cab signalling system can also travel on this line. This, therefore, becomes the first conventional railway line in Belgium equipped with ETCS. Making ETCS operational on this pilot line is in keeping with the strategy of Infrabel and SNCB to permanently and progressively increase safety on the Belgian railway network, in accordance with their joint master plan.
ETCS permanently controls the speed of trains
After prior implementation in 2009 of ETCS on the high-speed lines (HSL) from Liege to the German border and from Antwerp to the Dutch border, the Brussels – Leuven line is the first ‘conventional’ railway line (= non-HSL) on which ETCS is operational. High-speed trains and domestic trains with this safety system will gradually start to travel on these or other railway lines equipped with ETCS.
ETCS enables permanent control of a train journey, but also automatic braking when a train passes through a red signal, as well as when a train anywhere on a railway line equipped with ETCS exceeds the speed limit. This occurs by means of continual communication between the beacons on the tracks and the driving cab in the train (= ETCS Level 1).
You can find more details about ETCS and the automatic train control systems on our website.