Discontented of Infrabel, Antwerp Port wants to purchase port’s railways

The Antwerp Port Authority intends to take over more than 1,000 kilometers of railways within and around the port, a network currently owned by the Belgian rail infrastructure manager (Infrabel). The Port of Antwerp is not at all satisfied by how the port railway infrastructure is managed, so this May discussions to analyse several options for taking over are scheduled. The local media notes that the Port Administration is currently analysing the possibilities to exploit the railway infrastructure. Purchasing all 1,000 kilometers of railways is one of the options, however, Antwerp Port announces that it could take over the management of the West Bank’s infrastructure. Here are the largest container terminals. In addition, Antwerp Port also analyses the option of leasing the infrastructure. Local media also informs that Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Antwerp Port, publicly criticised the port rail infrastructure management by Infrabel. In his opinion, it lacks flexibility and does not properly address the needs expressed by companies operating in the port. As a result, these companies choose road freight transport. According to Vandermeiren, rail transport to and from the port has a 7% share, but it can be significantly increased. The port administration intends to focus on rail and barge transport for the transit of containers. ”This is why the rail network is should be managed by the port itself”, Vandermeiren said. Currently, Infrabel manages the entire railway network in Belgium, in contrast to neighboring countries where the management of port railway networks was handed over to the Port Authorities. This is the case of Hamburg Port (Germany) and Rotterdam Port (Netherlands), the main competitors of the Belgian port. Antwerp is one of the largest and most important ports in Europe and is located at the intersection of three major Rail Freight Corridors, such as Rhine-Alpine Corridor, the North Sea-Mediterranean Corridor and the North Sea-Baltic Corridor.

The port includes a vast rail network where containers are stored, loaded and shunted.


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