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Brussels Infrastructure Funding: Key Decisions Ahead for Rail, Metro and Waterway Projects
With EU grants and regional budgets in place, authorities face choices on project sequencing and delivery for rail safety systems, metro extensions and canal automation.
How we reported this
Belgium stands to receive up to €120 million in European funding for six transport infrastructure projects, with more than €100 million directed toward railways and waterways. The allocation forms part of a larger €5.4 billion Connecting Europe Facility round that selected 135 projects across member states.
EU Grant Breakdown and Immediate Priorities
Infrabel will use €49.6 million to expand the European Rail Traffic Management System, which monitors train speeds using track and train data. A further €38.8 million supports remote control centres and automation on Flemish waterways. Smaller sums target digital waterway management and level-crossing removals. These funds require coordinated decisions on tender timing and integration with existing works.
Beliris and Regional Project Pipeline
Beliris holds a €771 million budget for 2023-2024 covering the northern extension of Metro Line 3, the Schuman-Josaphat tunnel and reconstruction of the Robert Schuman Roundabout. The €2.2 billion Réseau Express Régional Bruxellois rail project, aimed at raising service frequency inside a 30 km radius of Brussels, now targets completion in 2025 after earlier delays. Officials must decide how to align the RER timeline with the new EU safety-system rollout.
Cycling, Urban Renewal and Airport Links
Ten cycling schemes received €1.15 million from the Bikes in Brussels Fund, including a €500,000 cycle bridge at Vierarmen in Tervuren and a separated path in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. Work continues on the Magasin 4 concert venue near Tour & Taxis and student-housing redevelopment on Place de la Reine. A new traffic complex near Brussels Airport in Diegem will incorporate Flanders’ first Single Point Interchange, a park and reopened sections of the river Woluwe for flood control. Project managers now weigh sequencing these smaller schemes against larger rail and metro commitments.
Next steps centre on finalising procurement schedules, confirming technical interfaces between ERTMS and RER infrastructure, and confirming delivery milestones for the 2025 RER target. Local authorities will also determine how Beliris funds complement the EU grants without duplication on overlapping corridors.