The Belgian railway line 25 is the oldest railway line in Belgium. It connects Belgium's two main cities: Brussels and Antwerp. The section between Brussels and Mechelen was completed in on 5 May 1835 and was the first railway in Belgium and the first public passenger steam railway on the European continent. On 3 May 1836 the second section, between Mechelen and Antwerp, was opened. It was extended to Luchtbal in the north of Antwerp in 2007 in order to shorten the route from Amsterdam to Brussels. The total line runs 47.6 km (29.6 mi).[1]
Over most of its length it is paralleled by line 27 so that four tracks are available. During business hours, line 25 serves fast trains while local trains use line 27.
The line goes through the following stations:
- Brussels-North
- Schaarbeek
- Buda
- Vilvoorde
- Eppegem
- Weerde
- Mechelen
- Mechelen-Nekkerspoel
- Sint-Katelijne-Waver
- Duffel
- Kontich
- Hove
- Mortsel-Oude-God
- Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg
- Antwerpen-Berchem
- Antwerpen-Central
- Antwerpen-Luchtbal
L25N
A recent addition is line 25N, which branches off south of Mechelen to follow the E19 motorway into the Diabolo to Brussels National Airport. As of 2019, works are underway to extend this line 25N through the Mechelen station, adding two platforms, to rejoin the "regular" line 25 North of Nekkerspoel station.[2] L25N has 3 kV DC electrification, and allows speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph).
References
- ^ "Ligne 25 : Bruxelles-Nord - Antwerpen-Centraal". BelRail.be. 10 August 2007.
- ^ Transformatie Mechelse stationsomgeving definitief van start, 7 januari 2013, Knack
- [1] Local language network overview
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