Introduction to Infrabel - Pauwels Consulting Academy
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This presentation gives an overview of the history, inner workings, structure and projects of Infrabel. This presentation was prepared by Luc Marivoet, Senior Consultant Engineering Services at Pauwels Consulting. The presentation was given on May 31, 2016 as part of the Pauwels Consulting Academy series. Go to https://www.pauwelsconsulting.com/pauwels-consulting-academy/ for more information about the Pauwels Consulting Academy.
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Introduction to Infrabel - Pauwels Consulting Academy
- 2. 22 Intro Who am I? Luc Marivoet, Senior Engineering Consultant. Quality Manager ISO at Infrabel on behalf of Pauwels Consulting. What’s the purpose of this presentation? “To provide you with the knowledge I lacked when I started my first project at Infrabel.”
- 3. 33 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 4. 44 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 5. 55 1 1830How it all started Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 6. 66 1830 - How it all started • 4 October 1830, Belgium separate from the Netherlands. • Belgium could no longer use the waterways. • The port of Antwerp was cut off from its German hinterland. • Belgium needs urgently an alternative mode of transport. • King Leopold I met George Stephenson and chose the revolutionary new railway technology ! 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 7. 77 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 1835 - The first railway in Europe
- 8. 88 1835 - The first railway in Europe • 5 May 1835, Belgium inaugurated its first railway and instantly became a pioneer. • The railway connection between Brussels-Groendreef (see picture) and Mechelen was the first commercial railway line on the European continent. 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 9. 99 1835 - The first railway in Europe • 3 locomotives, named ‘De Pijl’, ‘De Olifant’ (see picture) and ‘Stephenson’, do the route in less than an hour. 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 10. 1010 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 1926 - The establishing of NMBS / SNCB
- 11. 1111 1926 - The establishing of NMBS / SNCB • 23 July 1926, a Royal Decree (KB / AR) establish the new company and capturing the statutes. • Managing, maintaining and operating the railway under the guardianship of the Belgian state. 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 12. 1212 1926 - The establishing of NMBS / SNCB • Jean de Roy (a technical draftsman of NMBS / SNCB) designed the logo (a capital B in a lying ellipse) in 1936. • The architect Henry Van de Velde (artistic director of NMBS / SNCB) encouraged the board to choose this design. 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 13. 1313 1926 - The establishing of NMBS / SNCB • NMBS : Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen. • SNCB : Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges. 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 14. 1414 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 1935 - The first electric train in Belgium
- 15. 1515 1 1935 - The first electric train in Belgium • 5 May 1935, the first electric train ‘type 1935’ (see picture) runs from Brussels to Antwerp. • Exactly 100 years after the first train! • The speed was 120 km/h and the ride lasted 31 minutes. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 16. 1616 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 1966 - The last steam train in Belgium
- 17. 1717 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1966 - The last steam train in Belgium • 20 December 1966, the locomotive ‘29.013’ (see picture) pulled the last passenger train with steam traction between Ath and Denderleeuw.
- 18. 1818 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 1994 - The first high-speed train in Belgium
- 19. 1919 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1994 - The first high-speed train in Belgium • 14 November 1994, the first high-speed train in Belgium (Eurostar) runs from Brussels to London. • The first Thalys train runs from Paris to Brussels on 2 June 1996.
- 20. 2020 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 2005 - The establishment of Infrabel
- 21. 2121 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2005 - The establishment of Infrabel • 1 January 2005, the activities of NMBS / SNCB split up into three independent companies (to facilitate future liberalization of railway freight in agreement with European regulations).
- 22. 2222 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 1830 2016 2014 - A new structure of the Belgian Railway
- 23. 2323 1 Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2014 - A new structure of the Belgian Railway • 1 January 2014, the Belgian federal government decided to simplify the structure of the railways. • The NMBS / SNCB Holding disappears.
- 24. 2424 1 20166,514 km of main railway tracks Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 25. 2525 1 2016 - 6,514 km of main railway tracks • One of the most dense railway systems in the world. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline
- 26. 2626 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 27. 2727 2 Who is Infrabel? COMPANY PROFILE SOURCES OF FINANCING KEY FIGURES PRIORITIES ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT LOCATION CUSTOMERS Manager of the BELgian railway INFRAstructure
- 28. 2828 2 COMPANY PROFILE • Belgian government-owned public limited company. • Mission is recorded in a management contract with the federal government. • Responsible for maintenance, modernization, expansion and management of the Belgian railway network. • One of the largest employers and investors in Belgium. Who is Infrabel?
- 29. 2929 2 SOURCES OF FINANCING • Capital and operational grants from the federal government. • Infrastructure fees paid by transport companies (e.g. NMBS / SNCB, …). • Special investment mechanisms (RER Fund, European grants and Public Private Partnerships). Who is Infrabel?
- 30. 3030 2 PRIORITIES 1. Safety (Safety first) 2. Punctuality (Trains running on time) 3. Capacity (A rail network for tomorrow’s trains) 4. Finance (A financially fit company) 5. Corporate Social Responsibility (In tune with society) Who is Infrabel?
- 31. 3131 2 KEY FIGURES - 2015 • 11,723 employees • 6,514 km of main railway track • 1,773 level crossings • 11,925 engineering structures • 126 signal boxes Who is Infrabel?
- 33. 3333 2 MANAGEMENT • CEO, Directorates & General Departments Who is Infrabel?
- 34. 3434 2 MANAGEMENT - Chief Executive Officer • Responsible for the day-to-day management (since 2005). Who is Infrabel?
- 35. 3535 2 MANAGEMENT - Directorates • Responsible for the essential core tasks. Who is Infrabel?
- 36. 3636 2 MANAGEMENT - General Departments • Centralize the supporting processes that are key to day-to- day business operations. Who is Infrabel?
- 37. 3737 2 MANAGEMENT - Executive Committee • Consists of the CEO and 7 directors • Takes care of the daily management. Who is Infrabel?
- 38. 3838 2 ORGANIZATION & LOCATION Who is Infrabel?
- 39. 3939 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Who is Infrabel?
- 40. 4040 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Who is Infrabel?
- 41. 4141 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Build (Directorate I-B) • Facilitate the development of the railway infrastructure. • Build new railway lines. • Full upgrade existing railway lines. • Carry out the roll-out of new signalling systems. Who is Infrabel?
- 42. 4242 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Traffic Management & Services (Directorate I-TMS) • Manage rail traffic on the Belgian railway network. • Distribute and allocate rail capacity. • Maintain close contact with Infrabel’s customers. • Monitor the safety and punctuality. Who is Infrabel?
- 43. 4343 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Asset Management (Directorate I-AM) • Maintain and renew the various components of the railway infrastructure. • Manufacture and order railway materials and tools. • Rapid intervention in the event of disruptions. Who is Infrabel?
- 44. 4444 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Finance & Business Administration (General Dept. I-FBA) • Ensure sound financial management. • Develop the Company strategy. • Deal with any legal matters. • Supervise the acquisition files and procedures. Who is Infrabel?
- 45. 4545 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Information & Communication Technology (General Dept. I-ICT) • Develop IT solutions. • Provide telecommunications solutions. Who is Infrabel?
- 46. 4646 2 ORGANIZATION - General services Corporate & Public Affairs (General Dept. I-CPA) • Monitor the reputation of Infrabel. • Provide information to residents living near railway lines. • Contact with the press. • Internal communication. Who is Infrabel?
- 47. 4747 2 ORGANIZATION - General services HR & Organisation (General Dept. I-HRO) • Personnel administration. • Recruitment of new employees. • Assist the development of employee careers. • Ensure the welfare of employees. Who is Infrabel?
- 48. 4848 2 Director Head of Manager Head ofHead of Head of Head of Manager Manager Manager Manager Who is Infrabel? ManagerManager Manager Manager Manager ManagerManager Manager Manager Manager ORGANIZATION - Structure General services Directorate or General Department Service Department
- 49. 4949 2 LOCATION - General services • 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gilles), near Brussel-Midi Who is Infrabel?
- 50. 5050 2 LOCATION - General services • 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gilles), near Brussel-Midi Who is Infrabel?
- 51. 5151 2 LOCATION - General services • South City, Marcel Broodthaersplein 2, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Headquarters Who is Infrabel?
- 52. 5252 2 LOCATION - General services • South City, Marcel Broodthaersplein 2, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 53. 5353 2 LOCATION - General services • TUC RAIL, Fonsnylaan 39, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 54. 5454 2 LOCATION - General services • TUC RAIL, Fonsnylaan 39, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 55. 5555 2 LOCATION - General services • South Crystal, Fonsnylaan 13, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 56. 5656 2 LOCATION - General services • South Crystal, Fonsnylaan 13, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 57. 5757 2 LOCATION - General services • Complex France Bara, Frankrijkstraat 85, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 58. 5858 2 LOCATION - General services • Complex France Bara, Frankrijkstraat 85, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 59. 5959 2 ORGANIZATION - Workshops Who is Infrabel?
- 60. 6060 2 ORGANIZATION - Workshop Schaarbeek • Focuses on processing and treating rails. • Ensures that new and reusable rails are ready for use. • Producing continuous welded rails of 300 m long. Who is Infrabel?
- 61. 6161 2 ORGANIZATION - Workshop Wondelgem • Specialises in woodwork. • Supplies the necessary sleepers and logs. Who is Infrabel?
- 62. 6262 2 ORGANIZATION - Workshop Roeselare • Manufactures all standardised concrete components for use in the rail network (grooves, level crossing blocks, etc.). Who is Infrabel?
- 63. 6363 2 ORGANIZATION - Workshop Bascoup • Processes and assembles normal rails into switches and crossings. Who is Infrabel?
- 64. 6464 2 LOCATION - Workshops • Wondelgem, Roeselare, Schaarbeek and Bascoup Who is Infrabel?
- 65. 6565 2 ORGANIZATION - Logistic Centres Infrastructure (LCI’s) Who is Infrabel?
- 66. 6666 2 ORGANIZATION - Logistic Centres Infrastructure (LCI’s) • Group all the personnel / equipment needed for the maintenance of infrastructure within a specific area. Who is Infrabel?
- 67. 6767 2 Who is Infrabel? LOCATION - Logistic Centres Infrastructure (LCI’s) • Across Belgium and spread over 5 geographic subdivisions.
- 68. 6868 2 ORGANIZATION - Signal boxes Who is Infrabel?
- 69. 6969 2 ORGANIZATION - Signal boxes • Control all the signalling systems and switches within a specific area of the rail network. Who is Infrabel?
- 70. 7070 2 Who is Infrabel? LOCATION - Signal boxes • Across Belgium and spread over 5 geographic subdivisions.
- 71. 7171 2 ORGANIZATION - Traffic Control Who is Infrabel?
- 72. 7272 2 ORGANIZATION - Traffic Control • Coordinate train movements across Belgium. • Decide which trains are given priority in the event of malfunctions. Who is Infrabel?
- 73. 7373 2 LOCATION - Traffic Control • Complex France Bara, Frankrijkstraat 85, 1060 Brussel (Sint-Gillis) Who is Infrabel?
- 74. 7474 2 GEOGRAPHIC SUBDIVISIONS Who is Infrabel?
- 75. 7575 2 GEOGRAPHIC SUBDIVISIONS - 5 Areas • NE - Antwerpen • NW - Gent • CE - Brussel • SE - Luik • SW - Charleroi Who is Infrabel?
- 76. 7676 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 77. 7777 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 78. 7878 Rail infrastructure3 SUB-STATIONS OVERHEAD LINES SIGNALLING SYSTEMS SWITCHES AND CROSSINGS TRACKS LEVEL CROSSINGS CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS
- 79. 7979 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Tracks are the foundation on which the trains operate.
- 80. 8080 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Switches and crossings ensure that all possible connections and a change in the train route can be made.
- 81. 8181 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Signalling systems give the train drivers the necessary instructions to operate the train safely.
- 82. 8282 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Overhead lines provide electricity to the trains via the train's pantograph.
- 83. 8383 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Sub-stations convert electrical energy (11,000 volts to 70,000 volts) into the desired voltage (3,000 volts direct current) and distribute this energy across the rail network.
- 84. 8484 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Civil engineering works (bridges, tunnels and viaducts) ensure that a railway line can bridge certain geographical features of an area and cross traffic routes without being hindered.
- 85. 8585 Rail infrastructure3 CONSISTS OF • Level crossings are a junction of a railway line and a road on the same level.
- 86. 8686 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 87. 8787 4 Infrabel’s realizations HIGH-SPEED NETWORK DIABOLO PROJECT LIEFKENSHOEK RAIL LINK
- 88. 8888 4 Infrabel’s realizations HIGH-SPEED NETWORK • Consists of 419 km of railway lines. • 200 km of which are high-speed lines. • The speed of the trains varies from 160 km/h to 300 km/h.
- 89. 8989 4 Infrabel’s realizations DIABOLO PROJECT • The airport is directly connected to the major railway lines. • European cities are connected via international rail corridors.
- 90. 9090 4 Infrabel’s realizations LIEFKENSHOEK RAIL LINK • Ensuring the smooth flow of freight trains between the left and right banks of the Port of Antwerp.
- 91. 9191 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 92. 9292 5 Maintenance of the rail network Railway signalling systems Safety systems Safety, Infrabel’s top priority Level crossings Security along the tracks and on the platform Safety management
- 93. 9393 5 CONSISTS OF Maintenance of the rail network Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 94. 9494 5 CONSISTS OF Maintenance of the rail network • The infrastructure are checked at least twice a month. • To prevent breakdowns and incidents. • Problems will be quickly resolved. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 95. 9595 5 CONSISTS OF Railway signalling systems Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 96. 9696 5 CONSISTS OF Railway signalling systems • Necessary information on the railway line. • Relevant information on a display inside the train. • Rail traffic is managed 24/7 by Traffic Control. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 97. 9797 5 CONSISTS OF Safety systems Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 98. 9898 5 CONSISTS OF Safety systems • Memor-Crocodile system on all main lines. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 99. 9999 5 CONSISTS OF Safety systems • GSM-R : GSM network for the railway since 2009. • Contact between train drivers and traffic control. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 100. 100100 5 CONSISTS OF Safety systems • TBL1+ : Belgian train control system. • Transmission Balise Locomotive. • System is perfectly compatible with the ETCS system. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 101. 101101 5 CONSISTS OF Safety systems • ETCS : European Train Control System. • Balises in the track & computer system in the train cab. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 102. 102102 5 CONSISTS OF Level crossings Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 103. 103103 5 CONSISTS OF Level crossings • Reducing of level crossings, situated on busy railway lines and where the risk of an accident is greater. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 104. 104104 5 CONSISTS OF Level crossings • Barriers, lights and controls are regularly checked, maintained and repaired. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 105. 105105 5 CONSISTS OF Security along the tracks Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 106. 106106 5 CONSISTS OF Security along the tracks • Platform markings (yellow safety lines or textured surfaces) to remind passengers that they must keep a safe distance. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 107. 107107 5 CONSISTS OF Security along the tracks • Warning signs to inform people that crossing the tracks is forbidden. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 108. 108108 5 CONSISTS OF Security along the tracks • Stumbling mats to make it impossible for people to crossing the tracks. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 109. 109109 5 CONSISTS OF Safety management Safety, Infrabel’s top priority
- 110. 110110 5 Safety, Infrabel’s top priority CONSISTS OF Safety management • A total safety culture.
- 111. 111111 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 112. 112112 6 ETCS Master Plan THE BUIZINGEN TRAIN ACCIDENT • 15 February 2010, a collision between 2 trains. • 19 people were killed in the crash!
- 113. 113113 6 ETCS - Safety at an European level • In 2010, (after the Buizingen train accident) Infrabel and NMBS / SNCB launched an ambitious ETCS Master Plan in order to improve the safety of rail traffic. ETCS Master Plan
- 114. 114114 6 ETCS Master Plan Program Managers Quality Officers Project Managers Contract Owners Project Engineers Site Inspectors Design Engineers
- 115. 115115 Agenda 1. Railway in Belgium … historical timeline 2. Who is Infrabel? BREAK 3. Rail infrastructure 4. Infabel’s realizations 5. Safety, Infrabel’s top priority 6. ETCS Master Plan 7. Concentration of signal boxes
- 116. 116116 7 Concentration of signal boxes ESSENTIAL PROJECT - With regard to • Punctuality of rail traffic. • Safety of rail traffic. • Efficient use of human resources in operating the network.
- 117. 117117 7 Concentration of signal boxes ESSENTIAL PROJECT - With regard to • Modernization of equipment (new ICT systems). • Creating a better ergonomic working environment. VERY OLD EQUIPMENT ULTRA MODERN EQUIPMENT
- 118. 118118 7 Concentration of signal boxes IN PRACTICE • 368 signal boxes in 2005. • 31 signal boxes in 2017 after concentration. • 10 signal boxes in 2022 after super concentration.
- 119. 119119 7 Concentration of signal boxes Program Managers Quality Officers Project Managers Contract Owners Project Engineers Site Inspectors Design Engineers
Editor's Notes
- Thank you xxx for initiating this session ‘Introduction to Infrabel’.
- My name is Luc Marivoet, Senior Engineering Consultant since January 2013. On behalf of Pauwels Consulting, I am working as Quality Manager ISO for the service Signalling Projects at Infrabel. I am responsible for setting up, implementing, monitoring and maintaining the ISO 9001 certified quality management system. What’s the purpose of this session? “To provide you with the knowledge I lacked when I started my first project at Infrabel.”
- This is the agenda for today. You can consider it as a train journey with 7 railway stations on the railroad. Between 2 railway stations you will get some useful information about Infrabel. Arrived at station 3, we have a short break … and then we continue to our final destination.
- Everyone ready? We will begin our journey.
- it starts with the Belgian revolution in 1830.
- Belgium separate from the Netherlands on 4 October 1830. The result was that they closed off their waterways and the port of Antwerp was cut off from its German hinterland. Belgium needs urgently an alternative mode of transport to become a strong industrial country. King Leopold I met George Stephenson in England and he was impressed by the industrial revolution and the steam train and chose the new railway technology!
- But not everyone was convinced! Between 1830 and 1834 there were a great number of discussions in the Belgian parliament and lots of studies were carried out. Anyway, in the end, the railway won. In 1834 a law was enacted for the construction of 'the iron road’, 380 km of railway tracks.
- This political decision made sure that Belgium inaugurated its first railway on 5 May 1835. Belgium became a pioneer, because the railway connection between Brussels and Mechelen was the first commercial railway line on the European continent.
- Not 1, but 3 locomotives, named ‘De Pijl’, ‘De Olifant’ and ‘Stephenson’, do the route in less than an hour.
- From 1835 to 1926, the railways were organized within the Ministry of Railways, Telegraphs and Postal services, under the direct authority of the Minister of Railways. But it was an organization with political interference, a cumbersome structure, and some major corruption scandals.
- For that reason the Belgian State wants to establish a public company that could manage the railways much more efficiently. A Royal Decree establish the new company and capturing the statutes: SNCB will be responsible for the management, maintenance and operation of the railways under the guardianship of the Belgian State. This Royal Decree of 23 July 1926 is actually the birth certificate of the SNCB.
- The logo, a capital B in a lying ellipse, was designed in 1936 by Jean Roy, in response to a contest. Jean Roy was a technical draftsman of the SNCB. The artistic director of the SNCB, the architect Henry Van de Velde, encouraged the board to choose for this design. Why I am telling this, because in some publications is wrongly written that Henry Van de Velde designed the logo.
- SNCB is an acronym and stand for Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges. Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen (NMBS), In Dutch.
- In the 30s a number of important initiatives were taken, including the start of the electrification of the line between Brussels and Antwerp.
- And on 5 May 1935, exactly 100 years after the first steam train, the first electric train runs from Brussels to Antwerp. The train reached a speed of 120 kilometers per hour and the journey lasted for 31 minutes. Because of this success, the SNCB decided to electrify more railway lines. However, the electrical expansion proceeded steadily and slowly, because of the pressure from the coal mines and of course the Second World War.
- In 1966, the steam traction was abolished because it was not desirable in tunnels and underground stations.
- And on 20 December 1966 the last steam train ran between Ath and Denderleeuw. Steam trains moved to the museum and will be only demonstrated at special rides.
- 1994 is also an important year in the history of the Belgian railways.
- On 14 November 1994, the first high-speed train in Belgium (Eurostar) runs from Brussels to London. The first Thalys train runs from Paris to Brussels on 2 June 1996.
- 2005 is the year of the establishment of Infrabel.
- 1 January 2005, the activities of SNCB split up into three independent companies following new European regulations. Because the European regulations required a separation of the national railway operator and the railway infrastructure manager. From then you have SNCB as railway operator, Infrabel as railway infrastructure manager and the SNCB-Holding. The SNCB-Holding was created under the initiative of the social partners who wanted to ensure that all employees preserved the same unique status. As you can see in the timeline, Infrabel is a relatively young company, but it has almost 180 years of expertise in the sector.
- In 2014 they create a new simplified structure of the Belgian railway.
- 1 January 2014, the Belgian federal government decided to simplify the structure of the railways. SNCB-Holding and SNCB merged to become SNCB. Some of the responsibilities formerly held by SNCB-Holding were moved to HR Rail, while the other responsibilities were “distributed” between Infrabel and the “new” created SNCB. This is the structure that we see today: SNCB is the railway operator, Infrabel is the railway infrastructure manager and HR Rail is the legal employer of all employees in both companies.
- In 1834 they start to build 380 km of railway tracks and in the meantime Belgium has 6,514 km of main railway tracks.
- Belgium has one of the most dense railway systems in the world!
- Who is Infrabel?
- They are the Manager of the BELgian railway INFRAstructure. The graphic element in the logo refers to two railway tracks.
- It is a public limited company and their mission is recorded in a management contract with the federal government. They are responsible for maintenance, modernization, expansion and management of the Belgian railway network. It is one of the largest employers and investors in Belgium.
- They get capital and operational grants from the federal government, Infrastructure fees paid by transport companies and grants from special investment mechanism.
- All of the Infrabel activities and projects are based on the following priorities: Safety, Punctuality, Capacity, Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility.
- Here are some key figures which have recently been published. Every year in May they give an update.
- Today a number of rail operators use the capacity on the Belgian network. These companies are the direct customers of Infrabel. There are 11 European freight operators and 3 active passenger operators: SNCB, Eurostar and Thalys.
- Now a brief information about the Infrabel management.
- At the top you have the CEO, Luc Lallemand. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of Infrabel.
- Then you have 3 directorates who are responsible for the essential core tasks.
- And 4 general departments who centralize the supporting processes.
- Together they are the Executive Committee who takes care of the daily management of Infrabel.
- Infrabel operates all over the country and has numerous organizations in various locations.
- First of all you have the General Services.
- Those are the directorates and general departments.
- Build, build and upgrade the railway infrastructure.
- Traffic Management & Services manage the rail traffic.
- And Asset Management is responsible for the maintenance of the railway infrastructure.
- Finance & Business Administration ensure sound financial management.
- ICT develop IT solutions and provide telecommunications solutions for the entire company.
- Corporate & Public Affairs monitor the reputation of Infrabel and maintain close contact with the press.
- HR & Organisation ensure the personnel administration and monitor the recruitment of new employees together with HR RAIL.
- The Directorates and General Departments have the same structure. All of them have a number of services and each service consists of a number of departments. On top you have the Director, each service is leaded by a ‘Head of’ and each department is managed by a Manager.
- The general services are located in Brussel, more specific in Sint-Gilles, near the railway station Brussel-Midi.
- They are allocated over 4 buildings and each building has a specific name.
- The CEO, a part of the Directorate Build and the 4 General Departments have their offices in the building South City. This is the headquarters of Infrabel.
- The starting point to find the buildings is always the main entrance of Brussel-Midi. If you come by train and you leave the platform with the escalators, take the direction Fonsnylaan. The building is located opposite the main entrance of the railway station.
- Another part of the Directorate Build has their offices in the building of TUC RAIL. TUC RAIL is a subsidiary of Infrabel and they manage major infrastructure projects. They are part of Infrabel's Directorate Build.
- This building is near South City. On the same side of the street at number 39.
- The Directorate Traffic Management & Services have their offices in the building South Crystal.
- This building is also near South City. On the same side of the street at number 13.
- The Directorate Asset Management have their offices in the building Complex France Bara.
- Take now the direction Place Horta (or Thalys and Eurostar) when you leave the platforms with the escalators. Turn left when you leave the railway station and you will see the building ahead.
- Infrabel has also 4 specialized workshops where the infrastructure components are manufactured or repaired.
- Schaarbeek producing the continuous welded rails. They are 300 m long!
- Wondelgem specialises in woodwork. It supplies the necessary sleepers and logs.
- In Roeselare it is all about concrete. They manufacture all standard concrete components.
- And Bascoup assembles normal rails into switches and crossings. This workshop has plenty of experience: in 2012 they celebrate their 100th anniversary.
- Once more an overview of the workshop locations in Belgium.
- Infrabel has also Logistic Centres Infrastructure.
- They group all the personnel and equipment needed for the maintenance of the infrastructure within a specific area.
- They can be found across Belgium and spread over 5 geographic subdivisions.
- The Signal Boxes control the rail traffic at regional level.
- They control all the signalling systems and switches within a specific area of the rail network.
- They can be found across Belgium and spread over 5 geographic subdivisions.
- Traffic Control coordinates the rail traffic at national level.
- They coordinate train movements across Belgium and decide which trains are given priority in the event of malfunctions. They are also in constant contact with the signal boxes and train drivers.
- Traffic Control is located in Brussel, in the building Complex France Bara.
- What are geographic subdivisions?
- Belgium is divided in 5 areas: NE, NW, CE, SE and SW. Each area has also a head office: Antwerpen for NE, Gent for NW, Brussel for CE, Luik for SE and Charleroi for SW.
- We arrived at railway station 3, so we have a short break.
- Infrabel is the Manager of the rail infrastructure. But what is rail infrastructure?
- It consist of all fixed installations necessary to operate train vehicles and ensure the safety of this traffic. Mainly it consists of the following:
- Tracks and the track bed are the foundation on which the trains operate.
- Train routes have to join and cross each other in many places. Switches and crossings ensure that all possible connections can be made.
- Signalling systems are necessary to guarantee safety on the rail network. Light signals give the train drivers the instructions to complete the train journey safely. Signal boards enforcing speed limits.
- Overhead lines provide electricity to the trains. The train's pantograph is in contact with the overhead lines.
- Sub-stations convert electrical energy into the desired voltage and distribute this energy across the rail network.
- Civil engineering works are constructions that ensure that a railway line can bridge certain geographical features of an area and cross traffic routes without being hindered.
- A level crossing is a junction of a railway line and a road on the same level.
- Now brief information about Infabel’s realizations.
- I have selected 3 realizations at random. Of course there are many more.
- They realize a high-speed network consists of 419 km of railway lines. The network consists of 3 major axes connecting Brussels with Amsterdam, Paris, London, Cologne and Frankfurt in record time. The speed of the trains varies from 160 km/h to 300 km/h.
- Thanks to the Diabolo project, Brussels airport is directly connected to the major railway lines on the national network and various European cities via international rail corridors. Brussels Airport has become one of the airports with the best rail access in Europe. The shape of the rail infrastructure looks like a diabolo toy that is why they called it the Diabolo project.
- The Liefkenshoek Rail Link is a crucial rail link between the left and right banks of the port of Antwerp. Up to now, all trains to European destinations ran along a single rail line. The Liefkenshoek Rail Link has been created to speed up traffic.
- Safety is Infrabel’s top priority!
- In this chapter you will discover Infrabel’s safety measures on the Belgian rail network.
- One of the most important tasks is to maintain the rail network.
- The Belgian railway network is heavily used. Nearly 4,000 trains run on the network every day. In order to ensure they run safely and on time, the infrastructure is checked at least twice a month. And in case of breakdowns or incidents they resolve the problems quickly.
- Thanks to the signals along the tracks, the train drivers receive all the necessary information about their route.
- But at any speed higher than 160 km/h, the train driver can no longer see the light signals and signal boards along the tracks, so they needs also to have the information in the train cabinet via screens. Furthermore rail traffic is managed 24/7 by the signal boxes and Traffic Control.
- The train driver must always correctly follow the signaling systems along the track. However, because we are all human, Infrabel is installing additional safety systems.
- Since 1930 there is the Memor-Crocodile system on all main lines. With this system, when a train passes a “double yellow” signal (meaning a light announcing that the next light will be red) the driver is informed by a warning light in the cabin. The driver must then press a button to confirm that he has seen the warning light. If this is not done, the train’s emergency braking is applied automatically.
- Since 2009, the entire rail infrastructure has also been covered by its own dedicated mobile phone network ‘GSM-R’. It means that train drivers will never lose contact with traffic control.
- Since the end of 2015, the entire Belgian railway network is covered with the TBL1+ system (Transmission Balise Locomotive). It consists of a balise placed in the track that emits an electromagnetic signal. This signal is received by an antenna underneath the train cabinet. When the driver approaches a red signal, the support system activates a light. The driver must then acknowledge that he has received the warning by pressing a button. The emergency brake is automatically activated in case he does not do. This also happens if the driver has acknowledged the warning, but the train is still approaching the red signal too fast (more than 40 km/h when it is 300 metres from a red signal). So, thanks to TBL1+, the risk of passing a red signal is greatly reduced. The equipment used for TBL1+ is compatible with the European ETCS system. Switching over from TBL1+ to ETCS requires only a simple modification.
- The European Train Control System (ETCS) is an automatic train control system that informs, monitors and corrects with the aid of balises in the track and a computer system in the train cabinet. The balises on the track detect the precise location of the train so that the maximum permitted speed can be calculated. They also send the necessary route information to the on-board computer on the train. The ETCS system will also monitor the train driver, and take corrective action if necessary. If, for instance, there is a red signal two kilometres further along the track, the ETCS system will ask the driver to slow down. If the driver does not keep to the maximum speed limit, does not break in time or passes through a red light, the system automatically corrects the speed of the train or activates the emergency brake.
- Infrabel invest also in the modification, repair and removal of level crossings to improve safety.
- The best way to avoid accidents on level crossings is to eliminate the physical intersection between the track and the road. That is why Infrabel tries to replace level crossings with bridges and tunnels, situated on busy railway lines and where the risk of an accident is greater.
- Where Infrabel are unable to eliminate a level crossing, the barriers, lights and controls are regularly checked, maintained and repaired.
- They increase also the safety along the tracks.
- Trains sometimes pass through railway stations at high speed without stopping. To remind passengers that they must keep a safe distance, Infrabel introducing platform markings, such as yellow safety lines or textured surfaces.
- They use also warning signs to inform people that crossing the tracks is forbidden.
- And recently they use stumbling mats to make it impossible for people to crossing the tracks.
- And last but not least .... A total Safety culture.
- And I cannot say it better than the team of Dirk Porez ... discipline, dedication and friendship... but Safety First!
- Now brief information about the ETCS Master Plan.
- On 15 February 2010, there was a collision between 2 trains in Buizingen and 19 people were killed in the crash!
- After the Buizingen train accident, Infrabel and SNCB launched an ambitious ETCS Master Plan in order to improve the safety of rail traffic.
- As you can see it is a long-term project, so it gives opportunities for Pauwels Consulting to enlarge their footprint at Infrabel.
- Another project is the concentration of the signal boxes.
- It is an essential project with regard to punctuality and safety of rail traffic. And efficient use of human resources in operating the network.
- The modernization of equipment, that means new ICT systems. And creating a better ergonomic working environment.
- In practice it means: they start with 368 signal boxes in 2005, they will have only 31 signal boxes in 2017 after concentration and finally 10 signal boxes in 2022 after a super concentration.
- As you can see it is also a long-term project that gives opportunities for Pauwels Consulting to enlarge their footprint at Infrabel.
- I hope that you have now a better idea about the activities of Infrabel. In case you have still some questions, please shoot.
- You can always contact me if you have later any questions. You do not have to write down my coordinates, you can ask my business card after this session.