The express tram between Hasselt and Maastricht was a complete failure, but Belgium and the Netherlands are once again stepping up their cooperation to tackle cross-border rail connections. Only this time, it is not a collaboration between Flanders and its northern neighbors, but one at the national level.

Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) and Dutch State Secretary Thierry Aartsen signed a declaration to this effect in Antwerp. A budget has not yet been set aside.

Train between Eindhoven, Leuven, and Brussels?

Specifically, both countries want to investigate whether new train connections can be established between Belgium and North Brabant – Aartsen’s birthplace. The aim is to improve connections between the Brainport Eindhoven region and Leuven and Brussels. Currently, a train journey between these cities takes more than 2.5 hours with several changes.

In addition, several rail projects need to be accelerated, such as the 3RX connection (the alternative to the Iron Rhine between Antwerp and the Ruhr area) and a rail freight connection between Ghent and Terneuzen. The Flemish government has just decided to also establish a bus connection.

Finally, both countries want to achieve greater coordination in increasing capacity for cross-border military mobility and improving railway resilience.

Breathing new life into cooperation

“Our cooperation with the Netherlands has always been constructive, but sometimes it lacked ambition,” says Minister Crucke. “Today, we want to breathe new life into it so that we can strengthen our ties and accelerate the development of safe and efficient cross-border rail connections.”

To ensure progress, the competent ministers will meet at least once a year. A meeting of the Belgian-Dutch working group is scheduled every six months, in addition to meetings between experts on each rail dossier.

The aim is for Belgium and the Netherlands to sign an agreement framework containing a series of rail dossiers this summer.