Infrabel

Where there's a will, there's a railway

The first train in Belgium ran on 5 May 1835. On that day, three trains – the Elephant, the Arrow and the Stephenson – steamed from Brussels to Malines. It took them an hour to complete the journey. Nowadays, high-speed trains cross our country at a speed of 300 kph. A historic development. Since 1 January 2005, Infrabel has played an important part in this.

Infrabel makes trains run

Infrabel manages the Belgian railway infrastructure: tracks, overhead wiring, signalling infrastructure and structural works. It also manages platforms, underpasses, pedestrian bridges, escalators, lifts, lighting, shelters, intercoms, information signs... In short: we make sure trains run and keep running.

A European crossroads

Without a railway network we are not going anywhere, which is why Infrabel is developing it in the right direction. We streamline the national and international traffic with more trains, high-performance technology and sustainable mobility projects, thus turning our network into a European crossroads.

Independent operation

Infrabel is a public limited company. We get the funds needed for our operation from state subsidies. In addition, railway companies pay for using the network. 7.34 percent of our shares are held by the Belgian State; 92.66 percent by the SNCB Holding. Notwithstanding this, the Belgian State still holds 80 percent of the votes, plus one. This guarantees our independence.