A milestone for rail freight in Belgium
posted on 11th Jul 2026 09:38
For the very first time in history, a 1,600-tonne freight train has on 1 July 2026 successfully been hauled over the demanding 17 ‰ gradient of Line 162 in Belgium by a single locomotive - namely EURO9000.
This test was only possible thanks to the exceptional collaboration between Infrabel, NSA Rail Belgium (the Belgian railway authority), RTB CARGO BELGIUM and Stadler Valencia. The entire initiative was launched and coordinated by European Loc Pool with one clear objective: to unlock new opportunities for more efficient, flexible and powerful rail freight operations in Belgium.
Related news
- European Loc Pool receives approval for the Balkan region
- Alpha Trains and Lineas sign a lease agreement for two EURO9000s
- Port of Antwerp: the first-ever departure of an electrically hauled train on Line 11
- EURO6000 locomotives approved for Belgium and Luxembourg
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