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Diabolo makes the airport more accessible from the north Direct trains to the airport at Zaventem, from Brussels, Malines/Antwerp and Louvain/Liège. Plus a direct connection to the international axes to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, Frankfurt and other European cities. With Diabolo, Infrabel is working towards a more accessible airport for national and international railway traffic by 2012. Better connections reduce travel times Not only does the Diabolo project ensure a better connection to the airport, it also improves the link with the existing rail network. As a result, national and international trains reach their destinations faster. The project consists of two parts:
1. New line between Brussels and Malines (L25N) A new railway line will connect Brussels to Mechelen via the central reservation on the E19 Brussels-Antwerp. Not only will this improve the train connection, but it will also ease the car traffic on the motorways and the Ring in the north of Brussels. Infrabel is investing 250 million euros in the new line.
2. Connection to Brussels National Airport The train traffic from the airport connects to the new railway line underneath the Machelen interchange. The cost of this northern connection amounts to 300 million euros and is funded by a public-private partnership (PPP). Public limited company nv Diabolo finances its construction and maintenance. As an operator, Infrabel will contribute financially for 35 years to cover the costs.It will then become the owner. In line with other projects The Diabolo project does not stand alone, but it is part of the general accessibility plan for the north of Brussels. In 2005, for example, Infrabel built the Nossegem bend. It also expanded line 36 Brussels-Leuven-Liège to four tracks in 2006. This made the airport more accessible from Brussels and Leuven/Liège. The new Leuven bend directly connects Limburg to Brussels thus reducing travel times. The future Schuman-Josaphat tunnel will also increase accessibility to the airport.
Timing Start of the works: mid 2007
End of the works: end 2012
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