The Belgian federal government has announced a two-year deadline extension for equipping all trains on the national network with the European rail control system ETCS.
The initial deadline was 14 December 2025. However, delays in retrofitting high-speed trains and freight locomotives have extended the deadline by two years. In addition, there are concerns about a possible loss of up to 30% of rail traffic if non-adapted trains are banned from running.
French SNCF, which operates some 15 TGV Réseau trains between Brussels and destinations in France, has decided not to install ETCS on these trains, as they will be replaced by the new TGV M trains, which are factory-equipped with the system. But the operator does not envisage their arrival in Belgium before 2029.
Due to equipment shortages and supplier delays, only 78% of freight locomotives will be adapted by the end of 2025.
Infrabel, the infrastructure manager, expects the network to be fully equipped with ETCS by the end of 2025, although coverage is currently 83%.
