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🇧🇪 Belgium /Energy & Infrastructure

Court bans idle diesel trains in Lokeren at night and early morning, reducing services to Ghent

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A court has prohibited the NMBS from keeping diesel trains idle with running engines in Lokeren station before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. due to noise complaints.
  • This ruling will reduce train services between Lokeren and Ghent-Sint-Pieters starting August 20, affecting stations in Lokeren, Beervelde, Gentbrugge, and Gent-Dampoort.
  • The NMBS is temporarily implementing the measure while seeking a structural solution, with full replacement of diesel trains by electric and battery trains expected by 2031.

Residents near Lokeren station will experience reduced train services starting August 20, as a court has banned the NMBS from keeping diesel trains idle with running engines before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. The ruling stems from years of complaints about noise pollution from the stationary trains.

Hereby this suburban train service can no longer run to and from Ghent-Sint-Pieters at those times of day. This means that from August 20, we will have to limit our train offer.

— Britt MontenNMBS spokesperson explaining the impact of the court ruling on train services.

The NMBS spokesperson, Britt Monten, stated that this measure necessitates a temporary reduction in train offerings on the Lokeren-Ghent-Sint-Pieters route. Specifically, Gent-Dampoort will see a decrease from five to four trains per hour, and Lokeren from four to three. Gentbrugge will also be affected, with one train per hour instead of two.

The NMBS currently has no choice but to implement this measure temporarily. We are looking for a structural solution. NMBS is doing everything possible to roll this out as quickly as possible, so that the temporary limitation of the train offer can be kept to a minimum.

— Britt MontenNMBS spokesperson on the temporary nature of the service reduction and the search for a permanent solution.

While Beervelde station will maintain one train per hour, an IC train from Ostend to Antwerp will now stop there to ensure some service. The NMBS is actively seeking a long-term solution to minimize the impact on passengers. The line S53, which runs between Lokeren and Ronse, still uses diesel trains because part of its route lacks overhead electrical lines.

This does have a concrete impact for commuters from the Ghent area. For example, someone transferring at Ghent-Sint-Pieters towards Gent-Dampoort is suddenly confronted with a 25-minute transfer time, where it used to be much less.

— Olivier PintelonA commuter expressing concern about the practical consequences of the reduced train services.

Monten added that the current diesel trains will be replaced by modern electric and battery trains by 2031, as part of fleet renewal. However, commuters like Olivier Pintelon expressed concern about the immediate consequences, citing increased transfer times and urging the NMBS to find creative solutions to mitigate the disruption.

We ask the NMBS to look into minimizing the burden for commuters in Gentbrugge and Gent-Dampoort and to find a solution as soon as possible.

— Olivier PintelonA commuter urging the NMBS to address the impact on passengers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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