Starting December 13, additional early and late trains will run to and from Hasselt in the province of Limburg. Service will also be expanded in the province of Antwerp. This is evident from the presentation of the new schedule that the Belgian railway company is implementing.

The broad outlines of this new train service have been known for some time, but now it is the turn of the last Belgian provinces.

For early risers

On weekdays, there are extra early and late trains to and from Hasselt. In the morning, the first train from Hasselt will depart at least one hour earlier in both directions: toward Genk (5:02 a.m.) and toward Tongeren (5:53 a.m.).

From those two cities, the last train to Hasselt will also depart one hour later. From Genk, it will now depart at 10:06 p.m., and from Tongeren at 10:42 p.m.

In the province of Antwerp, two S-trains per hour will run between Mol and Antwerp in both directions during the morning and evening rush hours on weekdays.

Also on weekdays, an extra early S-train will depart from Antwerp Central Station to Puurs. That train will leave as early as 5:13 a.m., one hour earlier than it does today.

3% more trains

Further adjustments to the 2026-2029 transportation plan are scheduled for late 2027 – including an earlier connection from Antwerp’s Noorderkempen station to Mechelen and Brussels Airport – and late 2028 – with additional trains between Hasselt and Genk and Hasselt and Leuven.

Across the country, nearly 600 additional trains per week will be added, and 178 stations will see improved service. As a result, train service is expected to be 3% higher in 2029 than in 2026.

Also station improvements

The NMBS/SNCB is also continuing to invest in station improvements. For example, construction is set to begin in Sint-Truiden on a new underpass, with ramps leading to each platform.

Like Hasselt, the station will be fully accessible to passengers with limited mobility. At the same time, bicycle parking facilities are being expanded in Hasselt, Sint-Truiden, and Genk.

In the province of Antwerp, the following projects, among others, are planned: improving accessibility for passengers with limited mobility at 7 stations and renovating and/or expanding bicycle parking facilities at 15 stations.

For example, work will begin at the Mol station to extend the underpass. And in Bornem, the platform will be renovated and raised next year. In addition, NMBS is investing in additional bicycle parking spaces in Turnhout, Essen, and Puurs, among other places.