Brussels Rail Tunnel Project Faces Delays, Budget Realignment

The Schuman-Josaphat tunnel, part of the 2.2 billion euro RER/GEN network, now targets completion in 2025 after earlier delays, requiring a tunnel between Schuman and Josaphat plus the redirection of 28 stations.

Origins of the Current Projects

Brussels infrastructure planning has long involved coordination across rail, metro and cycling networks, with decisions on funding and sequencing determining progress on individual corridors. The RER/GEN network forms one strand of this work, while separate allocations address metro conversion and cycle routes in multiple districts.

Budget Allocations and Priorities

Beliris increased the total investment budget for Brussels to €771 million for 2023-2024, directing resources toward mobility projects that include the extension of Metro Line 3 to the north and the redevelopment of Place Schuman. Metro Line 3 is being upgraded from pre-metro tram infrastructure into a full metro line along the central Albert-Gare du Nord corridor, a distance of 6 km, under a sustainable mobility program supported by the European Investment Bank.

Cycling Infrastructure Additions

Ten new cycling infrastructure projects are receiving €1.15 million from the Bikes in Brussels Fund. This includes a cycle bridge over the Vierarmen in Tervuren at €500,000 and a separate path on Rue de l’Indépendance in Molenbeek. These allocations sit alongside the larger rail and metro commitments already underway.

Work on the Schuman-Josaphat tunnel continues toward the revised 2025 target, while the Beliris-funded upgrades to Metro Line 3 and the supported cycling routes proceed in their respective locations. Residents and commuters can track updates through the project pages listed on the Brussels regional government sites and the European Investment Bank project records.