Genk Cargo Connect to receive electric rail access by 2028

Genk Cargo Connect is set to become the first inland terminal in Belgium to allow direct access for electric freight trains. The project involves electrifying the final section of track leading to the terminal, a task expected to be completed by the spring of 2028.

Currently, electric freight trains must switch to diesel locomotives at a nearby station to traverse the non-electrified branch line. This requirement adds extra time, personnel, and equipment costs. The new infrastructure will include overhead lines, power supply equipment, and safety systems such as grounding and power switches.

The project has an estimated cost of approximately €1.385 million and is supported by the European EFRO program. According to POM Limburg, the electrification is expected to facilitate a shift of roughly 160,000 tons of goods from road to rail annually, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by at least 70% on the affected route.