The NMBS (Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen) or SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges, not to be confused with SNCF) is the Belgian national railway operator. It was created in 1926. The NMBS/SNCB is an autonomous government company.
In 2001 the NMBS/SNCB carried 160 million passengers a total of 8000 million kilometres over a network of 3521 kilometres (of which 2927 km are electrified). Of this 2576 km is electrified at 3000 volts DC and 351 km at 25 kV 50 Hz AC.
The network currently includes two high speed lines suitable for 300 km/h traffic: L1 runs from just south of Brussels to the french border, where it continues to Paris and Lille (and London beyond that), L2 runs from Leuven to Liège. L3 will run from Antwerpen to Rotterdam (in The Netherlands) and L4 will run from Liege to the German border near Aachen. L3 and L4 are currently under construction and will be finished in 2006.
See also
External links
