2023-09-25 16:47:56
The Dutch railway company Arriva, a subsidiary of the German Deutsche Bahn, officially submitted an application to the Dutch competition authority (ACM) on Friday for the operation of 26 lines from 2026. Among the proposed routes, a line might stop at Antwerp, Brussels and Brussels-National airport.
Arriva hopes to obtain the possibility to operate 26 railway lines which would gradually open between 2026 and 2033. This request was made in order to avoid a potential monopoly of the Dutch public company NS, while debates are taking place within the Dutch government around of the allocation of the railway network. In the past, the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary has filed several lawsuits regarding the concession of the rail network to the public service, but so far without success.
Among the lines proposed in its request to the ACM, Arriva plans to travel to Belgium from 2027, including stops in Antwerp, Brussels and Brussels Airport, from The Hague or Amsterdam.
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Zaventem Airport welcomes this proposal. “It’s interesting because we want to promote alternatives for short-distance flights, particularly between Amsterdam and Brussels. Being able to do it by train, without a connection, is very good for travelers,” explains Nathalie Pierard, spokesperson for Brussels Airport.
Infrabel, in charge of rail infrastructure in Belgium, points out that there are several steps to go through before obtaining a license and a passenger train path, i.e. a right of way for passenger transport. “The company must approve its equipment and meet Belgian safety standards. It must then send requests to Infrabel,” specifies Frédéric Sacré, spokesperson for the railway infrastructure manager.
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Brussels Airport further specifies that discussions are regularly held with the Eurostar group to allow the return of Thalys to the airport station, but these negotiations have not yet been concluded.
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