Belgian railway line 25

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Belgian railway line 25
Nekkerspoel NMBS 809 02.JPG
NMBS 809 (type MS75) arrives at platform 4 of Mechelen Nekkerspoel station in 2012
Overview
StatusOperational
LocaleBelgium
Termini
Service
Operator(s) National Railway Company of Belgium
History
Opened1835-2007
Technical
Line length48 km (30 mi)
Number of tracks double track
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 3 kV DC
Route map

Spoorlijn25.png

km
BSicon CONTg.svg
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0.0
Brussels-North
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BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon HST.svg
2.4
Schaarbeek
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BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon HST.svg
7.3
Buda
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
to Leuven
BSicon LSTR.svg
00.0
BSicon HST.svg
09.4
Vilvoorde
BSicon HST.svg
13.6
Eppegem
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon HST.svg
15.9
Weerde
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
20.4
Mechelen
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
to Leuven
BSicon LSTR.svg
00.0
BSicon HST.svg
26.5
Sint-Katelijne-Waver
BSicon hbKRZWae.svg
Nete River
BSicon HST.svg
28.9
Duffel
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
to Lier
BSicon LSTR.svg
00.0
BSicon HST.svg
33.8
Kontich
BSicon HST.svg
36.2
Hove
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BSicon PORTALf.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon tHST.svg
38.1
Mortsel-Oude-God
BSicon PORTALg.svg
BSicon HST.svg
39.7
Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon CONTgq.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
to Lier
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
42.8
Antwerpen-Berchem
BSicon LSTR+l.svg
BSicon PORTALf.svg
BSicon ABZgr+r.svg
BSicon tBHF.svg
43.8
Antwerpen-Centraal
BSicon LKRWl.svg
BSicon PORTALg.svg
BSicon KRWg+r.svg
BSicon mbKRZo +cerulean.svg
BSicon HST.svg
47.6
Antwerpen-Luchtbal
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon CONTfq.svg
BSicon CONTf.svg

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  [ fr ] 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:

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).

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References

  1. "Ligne 25 : Bruxelles-Nord - Antwerpen-Centraal". BelRail.be. 10 August 2007.
  2. Transformatie Mechelse stationsomgeving definitief van start, 7 januari 2013, Knack