Belgian rail operator SNCB has inaugurated a new maintenance hall at its Ostend traction workshop, following a EUR 47 million investment as part of a major program to modernize its rolling stock maintenance infrastructure.
The new hall is the fifth of its kind to be commissioned by SNCB in recent years, after those in Arlon, Hasselt, Kinkempois, and Melle, and its main objective is to increase the availability and reliability of trains, with a direct impact on the punctuality of rail services.
Faster maintenance without disconnecting trains
The hall is 200 meters long, 18 meters wide and 13 meters high and is equipped with two through lines, accessible from both ends. This configuration allows maintenance work to be carried out on long trains without wasting time uncoupling the multiple units, but also allows up to four trains to be accommodated inside at the same time.
The project also includes a 370-meter inspection channel, located outside, which allows for the organization of several work stations under the trains. The channel is also equipped with a mobile platform for pantograph interventions, facilitating access from the roof of the trains and reducing downtime.
In addition, investments have been made in cleaning platforms, an industrial signaling system, and new maneuvering equipment capable of moving trains inside the workshop.
Work began in 2020, and the new hall will become operational at the end of 2025.
The TIM principle: a “pit stop” for trains
With the new hall now in operation, the Ostend workshop can operate according to the TIM (Timetable Integrated Maintenance) principle, which SNCB compares to a “pit stop” in motor sports. Trains enter the workshop more often, but for shorter periods, with work scheduled during periods of low traffic.
On average, a train is brought in for maintenance every two weeks for work lasting around four hours, allowing it to return to service quickly. To ensure maximum availability during the morning rush hour, the technical teams also work at night.
Focus on sustainability and working conditions
The new hall was designed with a focus on sustainability and ergonomics. Over 900 photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof, with an installed capacity of approximately 400 kW, energy used directly to partially cover the workshop’s consumption. Rainwater is also collected and reused.
For employees, the infrastructure brings significant improvements: floors lowered below track level, deeper working channels, mobile platforms, and modern lifting systems designed to increase safety and efficiency.
A key hub for West Flanders
The Ostend traction workshop currently has around 250 employees and provides monthly maintenance, repair, and cleaning for nearly 400 multiple units and locomotives, playing a key role in the operation of rail traffic in West Flanders and beyond.
As part of its 2023–2032 investment plan, SNCB is allocating EUR 1.4 billion to workshops and maintenance infrastructure, equivalent to around 15% of the company’s total investment budget.
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