If the Euregio secures the prestigious project to build the Einstein Telescope, a railway site spanning over 44 hectares in Montzen, near Voeren, will be available for this purpose.

Both the Belgian rail infrastructure manager, Infrabel, and the Belgian national railway company, NMBS/SNCB, have given their informal approval for this.

World-class measuring instrument

The Einstein Telescope is set to become a world-class instrument for detecting gravitational waves. In this way, researchers will investigate the formation of black holes, the structure of neutron stars, and the nature of the universe immediately after the Big Bang.

Together with the regions of Sardinia in Italy and Saxony in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and North Rhine-Westphalia are jointly bidding for the project.

The proposed location is in the border area of South Limburg with Wallonia and the Flemish municipality of Voeren. Construction costs are estimated at 2,3 billion euros, and the telescope is expected to operate for at least 50 years.

The bid book must be completed by December 2026 at the latest. The selection of the location between the Euregio Meuse-Rhine border region, Sardinia, and Saxony will take place in the second part of, or near the end of, 2027.

250 to 300 meters underground

However, if Flanders secures the project, Infrabel and NMBS/SNCB will make a railway site of over 44 hectares available for the construction phase of the underground Einstein Telescope – the instrument will be built 250 to 300 meters underground. The two companies gave their informal approval for this yesterday.

The site will then serve as a logistics hub for the temporary storage and processing of soil and materials. The recently upgraded rail network, which includes four long freight tracks up to 750 meters in length, can ensure sustainable logistics in the event of future implementation of the project.

Sustainable

“The more we can transport by rail and the better we can process our soil and materials, the more sustainable the operation becomes,” said Hans Plets, chair of the Einstein Telescope EMR task force. “We are therefore particularly pleased that Infrabel and NMBS/SNCB are formalizing our exploratory discussion with this Letter of Support.”

No agreement has yet been reached regarding financial aspects, nor are they part of the Letter of Support.