SNCB/NMBS new timetable from Dec. 12, 2005

[EricLL]

Hello to all,

As many european railways, Belgian state railways will adapt its timetable from Demcember 12th, 2005. Here under, you'll find the most important changes:

The new "Nossegem chord" will enable two IR-services, limited to the airport at this time, to run through the Airport and then reach Leuven via this new chord between line 36c and 36.

Most of the improvements made in the area of Antwerpen last year are maintained as they are now popular and this even if the motorway engineering works are over.

Another good news is the return of the Quévy - Aulnoye / Maubeuge regional services allowing faster journey from Mons to North of France.

Let's see the detail of the changes :

IR-d service from Leuven to Geraardsbergen (with train being split in Enghien/Edingen) is converted to CityRail service. That means that refurbished AM66-70 EMUs are to be used instead of AM80. From december, the part that goes to Geraardsbergen via Ath and Lessines will be in front of the train and the part to Geraardsbergen via Herne at the end.

IR-I De Panne - Brussels-Airport will run through up to Landen and will call at Leuven, Vertrijk, Tienen, Ezemaal and Neerwinden replacing IC-K, the result is that IC-K service will be 7 minutes faster. At week-ends, it will still terminates at Schaarbeek.

IR-j service that runs from Quévy (on weekdays) / Quiévrain (on week-ends) - Brussels-Airport will also running through up to Leuven giving a second relation between Leuven and the Airport.

Two new P-trains are created : the first one P7445/8445 will join Liège-Guillemins and Brussels in 1 hour! It only calls at Brussels-North and Central station. It will run over the High Speed Line between Ans and Leuven. Stock used for this new train will come from EC90/91 stock that are to be replaced by SBB/CFF stock. The second one is P 7010/8010 running from Sint-Niklaas to Brussels via Belsele, Sinaai, Lokeren, Gent-Dampoort, Gentbrugge, Merelbeke and Melle, thus avoiding Gent's main station (Gent-Sint-Pieters).

IC 545/1745 that terminates at Brussels-Midi will now run up to Oostende (arriving there at 1:59) with calls at Denderleeuw, Gent-Sint-Pieters, Aalter and Brugge.

As result of major engineering works around the station of Namur, IC-M services will no longer split there. All cars will go to Liège. The Namur-Dinant part is taken over by IR-n service that will now reach Dinant. Two years ago, it was already the case for the same reason. This is due to end by June 2006, when a return to normal scheme is expected.

A new table appeared in the timetable : 96f giving the timetable for the new Quévy - Aulnoye/Maubeuge services.

Soon, a map of IC-IR services will be available on my website.

Cheers,

Eric