Siemens, Equans and Infrabel complete Belgium's ETCS Level 2 rollout

The consortium Siemens Mobility and Equans, in collaboration with the Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel, proudly announce the timely completion and commissioning of a groundbreaking project to modernize Belgium’s national rail network. With Project start in 2015, the initiative has successfully upgraded 2,274 kilometers of track with state-of-the-art European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 technology. 

By integrating advanced interlockings and enabling continuous digital communication, the project delivers significant improvements in operational efficiency, and seamless cross-border train operations, fully aligned with EU standards. Spanning the entire nation and prioritizing key European transport corridors, this modernization positions Belgium at the forefront of Europe’s rail digital transformation. 

Within the consortium, Siemens Mobility is responsible for implementing and modernizing ETCS Level 2 and interlocking systems across most of the country’s rail infrastructure, while Equans is handling the comprehensive on-site installation, including civil engineering, electrical works, hardware deployment, cabling, and rigorous documentation.
 
“Belgium is the first country to implement ETCS across a highly complex network under rolling conditions with almost no closures – setting the example Europe must follow,” says Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility. 

“The on-time completion and commissioning of this project, exactly 10 years after its start, reflects the strength of our partnership with Infrabel and the consortium’s unwavering commitment. With much of Belgium’s rail network now running on ETCS Level 2, our proven signaling technology delivers the highest safety standards and a more efficient, future-ready rail system for the entire country.”

Mark Dirckx, CEO Equans Belux, added: “With the nationwide installation of the European train control system ETCS and the achievement of the ETCS Masterplan, we have made an important contribution to safer, more efficient and future-proof rail transport in Belgium. 

"Thanks to a partnership with Siemens Mobility, we realized a technically and logistically complex project of impressive scale: extensive rail lines, thousands of track equipment, and a robust digital infrastructure. This project strongly supports the modal shift and is an investment in technology, reliability and sustainability for the future of Belgian rail.”
 
Modernizing Belgium’s rail network
Before Belgium’s ETCS upgrade project, the railway network relied on legacy systems, limiting reliability, efficiency, and cross-border compatibility. Driven by European regulations for improved safety and interoperability, Belgium launched its 'ETCS Masterplan', aiming to equip all lines with advanced ETCS technology by December 2025 — significantly ahead of the EU’s own deadline.
 
Phased rollout towards full national coverage
The comprehensive deployment of ETCS across the Belgian rail network, launched in 2015, follows a strategic line-by-line approach prioritizing key routes and international connections. Siemens’ Trainguard 200 RBC (ETCS L2) and Simis W (Interlocking) technology enable optimized train movements via GSM-R communication, improving network utilization, increasing capacity, and boosting efficiency to meet growing demands.
 
The geographic coverage includes major Belgian cities, linking Bruges, Ghent, Hasselt, Arlon, Verviers, and Mons, creating a rail network that spans from north to south and east to west. This rollout seamlessly integrates 46 interlockings, 37 Radio Block Centers (RBCs) — vital for managing train movements in real time — over 19,000 balises, and approximately 4,536 signals, ensuring advanced network performance. 

With a focus on critical European transport corridors and national railway axes, the deployment underscores Belgium’s commitment to building an efficient, interconnected rail infrastructure. Belgium has now achieved full ETCS deployment across its entire rail network, with comprehensive coverage at both Level 1 and Level 2.