Scheduled (if infrequent) steam-hauled service is returning next year to Belgium’s mainline rail system after an absence of 53 years, on the historic 21 km route that was continental Europe’s first steam-powered railroad, from Brussels to Mechelen.
The train, which will be operated by Train World Museum in Brussels, will use a vintage locomotive that’s been updated with modern communication and safety systems so that it can run on the mainline and take passengers. According to Piet Jonckers, Train World director, “Our goal is to offer regular steam train rides on the official railway network.”
Trains will operate one weekend per month, starting next year. The train is capable of up to 140 km/h, but will actually operate at 60-80 km/h because of traffic on the line and the short distance.
