Denderleeuw (Eurotoday) – Infrabel, the company in charge of Belgium’s railway infrastructure, is carrying out major upgrades at Denderleeuw station. The €33.5 million project includes the replacement of 1,250 meters of railway track and 11 switches, along with the installation of 41 new supporting poles. This investment aims to enhance both safety and train speed. Frédéric Petit, spokesperson for Infrabel, confirmed the developments.
According to officials, extensive work is underway across the station area, which spans approximately one kilometer. The upgrades involve replacing old track segments as well as the vital switches that guide trains from one track to another. Additionally, the poles that support the overhead electric wires are being renewed to ensure better performance and reliability.
What upgrades are Infrabel making to Denderleeuw station tracks with a €33.5M investment?
Beyond track and switch replacement, Infrabel is installing 4,000 meters of new electric wiring and replacing 2,100 wooden sleepers—the beams that support the tracks. To stabilize the railways, 7,000 tons of track ballast (crushed stones) are also being added. These reinforcements are intended to extend the life of the tracks and improve train operations.
The construction is scheduled during the Easter school holidays, a period of reduced passenger traffic, to minimize disruption.
“On an average weekday, almost 350 trains pass Denderleeuw station.”
— Frédéric Petit, spokesperson for Infrabel
The upgraded tracks will initially connect to platforms 4 and 5, which are expected to become operational just after Easter. Remaining platforms will be refurbished in the coming years.
Signal upgrades are also a key part of the project. Infrabel is enhancing signals between Denderleeuw and Burst to increase both safety and efficiency. During this phase of the works, from April 5 to 20, 2025, there will be no train service on that segment. Replacement buses will be provided.
Denderleeuw station is a major rail hub, with 345 trains passing through daily during the week—320 of them carrying passengers and 25 handling freight. On weekends, around 265 trains use the station. Given that rail tracks generally last between 20 and 25 years, periodic upgrades are crucial.
In total, Infrabel is investing €33.5 million into the modernization efforts at Denderleeuw. Of that, €9.2 million is allocated specifically for the work taking place during Easter. An additional €13 million is being directed toward signal improvements along the Denderleeuw–Burst line.
Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. Eurotoday provides independent and in-depth coverage of international and European affairs. With a continent-wide focus, it reports on EU policies, developments in member states, and the broader international agenda from a European perspective.
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