Belgian railway network to receive ETCS Level 2 modernisation

Infrabel, the Belgian railway infrastructure operator, has awarded Siemens together with Cofely-Fabricom a contract to install ETCS Level 2 across 2,200 kilometres of track.

The awarded contract, worth approximately €510 million, will see the consortium between Siemens and infrastructure development company Cofely-Fabricom (GDF SUEZ) install the ETCS European Train Control System, Level 2 across the Belgium railway network. The contract also includes the installation of the new automatic train protection (ATP) system and electronic interlocking equipment. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.

The ETCS European Train Control System constitutes an essential component for the merging of European railway traffic. It is designed to replace the more than 20 national ATP systems on the European continent and enhance network safety and capacity.

Jochen Eickholt, Head of the Mobility Division at Siemens, said: “This order underscores our leading position in the field of automatic train protection systems. Siemens has already successfully installed ETCS Level 1 for the Belgian railways.”

The ETCS Level 2 uses the railway-specific GSM-R mobile radio system to ensure a permanent two-way radio connection between the vehicle and trackside. This not only makes continuous speed monitoring possible, it also means that new movement authorities can immediately be transmitted to the vehicle and all relevant information is displayed to the driver in the driver’s cab. Siemens is currently equipping lines in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey and Hungary with this highly automated system.