Nationwide implementation of ETCS on Belgium’s rail infrastructure
Belgium goes digital: To further enhance the punctuality and speed of rail transport, together with Infrabel, we are building one of the most advanced rail networks in Europe.
Belgium goes digital
Belgium is taking the lead in modernizing the European rail network and is doing so with strong momentum. In the Belgium ETCS L2 IL program, we are deploying European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 technology together with Infrabel to ensure safer, more efficient, and interoperable train operations. This initiative is part of a broader European vision: creating a unified rail system that connects countries seamlessly. By combining innovation and collaboration, we are setting the pace for digital transformation across Europe.
Under Belgium’s ETCS Master Plan, all lines must be equipped with ETCS (European Train Control System) technology by mid-December 2025. This bold move addresses outdated safety systems and meets growing demands for reliability and seamless cross-border operations.
A strategic leap toward a digital future
On December 15, 2025, we have successfully completed this landmark project to modernize Belgium's rail network. Since the project’s launch in 2015, 2,274 kilometers of track have been upgraded to ETCS Level 2. At the same time, we have long been the preferred partner for a major part of the rail infrastructure planned with ETCS Level 1 – a significant milestone in Europe’s digital rail transformation.
Our proven solutions Trainguard 200 and Simis W enable continuous digital communication between train and track via GSM-R, reducing reliance on physical signals and significantly enhancing operational safety.
The benefits are clear:
- Safety and reliability through automatic train control, speed supervision, and real-time monitoring
- Interoperability for seamless cross-border traffic
- Future readiness, with a system designed for upcoming innovations and lower maintenance costs
This modernization spans Belgium's entire rail network, connecting Bruges, Ghent, Hasselt, Arlon, Verviers, and Mons – from north to south and east to west. This rollout seamlessly integrates 46 interlockings, 37 Radio Block Centers (RBCs), vital for managing train movements in real time, over 19,000 balises, and approximately 4,536 signals, ensuring advanced network performance.
Impressions of the event
With the nationwide rollout of ETCS, including an important part of ETCS Level 2, we are taking Belgian railways to the highest European standards of safety and efficiency. This is not just a project: together with Siemens Mobility, we renewed not only the technology but also demonstrating the power of digital infrastructure.
Safe, efficient, and future-ready
- Advanced automatic train control and real-time monitoring significantly increase safety while minimizing the risk of human error. The system is fully EU-compatible, enabling seamless cross-border train traffic without technical obstacles and strengthening interoperability with neighboring countries. Finally, the system is built for the future: it was designed with future innovations in mind and lays the groundwork for a modern, sustainable network with lower maintenance costs.
Belgium is the first country to implement ETCS across a highly complex network under rolling conditions with almost no closures – setting the example Europe must follow. The on-time completion and commissioning of this project, exactly ten years after its start, reflects the strength of our partnership with Infrabel and the consortium’s unwavering commitment. With much of Belgium’s rail network now running on ETCS Level 2, our proven signaling technology delivers the highest safety standards and a more efficient, future-ready rail system for the entire country.
