Rail transport in Belgium
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Train_electrification_Belgium.jpg
Belgium has an extensive railroad network. On May 5, 1835 the first railway in continental Europe opened between Brussels-Groendreef and Mechelen. In 1830 already, a railroad or a canal was envisaged. The feasibility of a railroad was investigated by engineers Pierre Simons en Gustave De Ridder. The first trains were Stephenson engines imported from Great Britain. The engines were called Pijl meaning Arrow, Olifant meaning Elephant and 'Stephenson' obviously named after his designer. They pulled bench-cars and diligences. On the return from Mechelen, the Olifant pulled all 30 cars. By 1840, Ghent, Bruges, Ostend, Antwerp, Mechelen, Brussels and Leuven were connected. The lines that had to reach Liège, Mons and Kortrijk were partially completed. In 1843, when the major East-West/North-South axes were complete, private companies were allowed to construct and use their own railroad systems. These were crucial in the industrialisation of the country.
In 1870 the Belgian state owned 863 km, while the private enterprises owned 2,231 km. From 1870 to 1882 the railways were gradually nationalised. In 1912, 786 km were state property compared to 275 km private linesand full nationalisation was considered, but it took until 1926 when the NMBS/SNCB was started. It was named the NMBS (Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen) or SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges, not to be confused with SNCF). In 1958 the net was fully state-owned. On May 5, 1935 the NMBS/SNCB started with electrification, on the line Brussel-Noord to Antwerpen-Centraal, 44 km.
Infrastructure
In 2003 the amount of railways was 3,518 km all of which were standard gauge: 1.435 m gauge (2,631 km electrified).
Most electrified Belgian lines use a 3,000 volt DC overhead power supply, but the high speed-lines (Lille - Brussels, and the new high speed lines to the Netherlands) are electrified at 25,000 volts AC.
The trains in Belgium drive on the left. This is unlike road vehicles, which drive on the right side of the road.
Policy
Citizens in Belgium, especially students and older citizens, are offered incentives and cheaper fares in order to alleviate congestion on the nation's roads. Smoking is prohibited in all train stations and passenger cars