Train Sim World 4 A Belgian Route With More Than 1000 Services : Enghien-hal-brussels-leuven-liège

Hello Everyone !
Today I suggest a Belgian route from the suburb town of Enghien to Liège via Brussels and Leuven.

This suggestion have multiple chapter :

1: Introduction and presentation of the route
2: The line between Enghien and Liège (Basically the tracks and the stations)
3: Railway signalling in Belgium
4: The rolling stock
5: The different services
6: Conclusion

The TL;DR is at the end of this thread
(As Belgium is a multilingual country, names of cities may varies between Dutch and French
I personnaly speak more French than Dutch and I'll use the French version for this post. All stations names will be translated at the end of this thread)
1st chapter : Introduction and presentation of the route

This route is set in 2023 and is about 110km long.

The main operator in Belgium is the SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belge in French)
or NMBS (Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen in Dutch)
The logo of the company:

This route offer many different kind of services from Intercity to S-bahn train.

The main stations on the route are Bruxelles-Midi, Louvain and Liège.
Bruxelles-Midi is in the center of the capital of the country along Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Nord.
The particularity of Bruxelles is that there is a 6 tracks tunnel with 2 stations in this tunnel that goes from Bruxelles Midi to Bruxelles Nord. It was achieved in 1952 and connected the biggest station in the area.

Another particularity of this route is the stations of Louvain and Liège. They were both recently rebuilt with a new modern design.
Louvain Station:


Liège Station:
The final major point of this route is the LGV 2 between Louvain and Liège that allows IC train to run up to 200km/h and ICE and Thalys up to 300 km/h. The line is equipped with ETCS I.

2: The line between Enghien and Liège (Basically the tracks and the stations)
Now the less fun part where does the train runs !

The first station on our route is Enghien (Abreviated: Egn):
There is 5 Tracks

Then there is Hal a major turnaround before entering Bruxelles:
The 5 tracks are partly underground. Behind the wall that you can see on the left is where the Eurostar/TGV/Thalys pass.

Our next station is Buizingen (Bzgn):
There is 3 tracks that are mostly used for only one service.

Then Lot:

There is also 3 tracks and isn't used much and only for one service

The next one is Ruisbroek(Rsbk):
Only 2 tracks and only used for the same service as the two before.

The next one on our list is Forest-Midi(Frt M):
3 tracks for the same service that go at Ruisbroek while most of the others trains go trough. The station is near one of the biggest depot in Belgium where you can see a lot of TGV/ICE/Thalys/Eurostar

Now the biggest one ! Bruxelles-Midi(Bxl M):


22 Tracks with 6 of them for International high speed train. The main hub of Belgium when you talk about train. Almost all services avaible on the route stop here.

Next a less beautiful station Bruxelles Chapelle(Bxl Chp):

With 4 tracks it seem to be a busy station ? Not at all you will see only a train stopping here every hour.
It's only 1km away from Bruxelles Midi. The station is located at the south entrance of the Nord-Midi Tunnel that you can see on the back of the image.

Next Bruxelles Central(Bxl C):
The main hall:

And the underground tracks:
With 6 underground tracks almost all trains stop here! The only exceptions are the International trains (Except the BeNeLux service)
Our next station is Bruxelles Congres(Bxl Co):
This station is underground but only has 4 tracks. Unlike other parts of the Nord-Midi tunnel here you can't see the other trains.

After the tunnel here is Bruxelles Nord(Bxl N):
A station with 12 tracks that I find super ugly. All trains will stop here except the International trains

Next the beautiful station of Schaerbeek(Scbk):

With 15 tracks it was before a main hub in the country but now most of the IC trains don't stop here.
The old hall is now a museum ! Train World

Part 2 ->

 

1000 services.................

So can I read that as: Buggy mess?

1000 services dosent work for BML for most consoles and SEHS needed a reducded timetable to work after the 700 bulked it up. While its a great route 1000+ services rarely ends well.

 

Next Haren-Sud(Hrn S):

This is where our high-speed journey start to show it's face ! With 2 tracks on the classic line (L36) and
2 tracks on the new line (l36N). Haren-Sud see a lot of trafic. The green/yellow train that go trough on this photo is on the L36N. A line that go all the way to Louvain with max speed of 200 km/h

Next is Diegem(Die):

With 2 tracks on the L36 and 2 tracks on the L36N Diegem is simillar to Haren-Sud

And now Zaventem(Zav):

With 2 tracks on the L36 and 2 tracks on the L36N Zaventem is simillar to Diegem

Under the Brussels Zaventem airport here is Brussels Airport-Zaventem(Bxl A):

The station deserve the national airport with 3 tracks. It's a branch of the Line 36 the L36C.
Here is the tunnel where the L36C start:

It's a branch of almost 2km that allow more services variations

Back on the L36/N here is Nossegem(Nsgm):

With 2 tracks on each line it's very simillar to Diegem or Zaventem

Part 3 ->

 

Fantastic idea bring it on

 

Also like Nossegem here is Kortenberg with an ICE 3 at 200km/h(Krtbrg):


Here is Erps-Kwerps (Yes that sound special)(Erp-Kwe):

With 2 tracks on each line it's also a copy paste of Diegem, Zaventem,...

Here is Erps-Kwerps (No it's Veltem another copy paste)(Vel):


Oh look another station that look like the previous one ! Here is Herent(Her) (I promise it's the last one):

 

At the end of the L36N there is the Louvain Station ! (Lvn) :

With 14 tracks it's an important hub in the area. All the trains stop here except the International services.
After Louvain there is the LGV 2 where the ICE 3 can go up to 300km/h (FINALLY)

Just at the end of the LGV 2 (Rougly 64km after) there is Ans station:

With 5 tracks it's not very used anymore except for local trains

And here is the end of the route ! Liège Guillemins (Lg) :

With 9 tracks all train stop here ! (Yes even the ICE and the Thalys) Despite being super hot in summer and super windy in winter this station is beautifull ! (There's a restaurant with delicious meal next to main entrance right under the tracks ! That is already a super argument to go there)

There is at the moment a temporary art project on the glass roof that is looking wonderfull:

Part 4->

 

3: Railway signalling in Belgium.

The signalling in Belgium is a mix of UK and Germany.
Here is the clear aspect :

Here is the warning next is stop aspect :

Here is the stop aspect:

Here you must slow down to 40km/h or more if a speed is shown on the signal:

This signal is warning you of the signal above:

 

This is the shunting permitted signal:

 

If your train is on the wrong side of the tracks the signal will flash (The good side is left like in the UK)

 

This signal is typically used in yards with 2 positions (Stop or Clear):

 

For the speed limits there is multiple signs :
This one is warning that a 90km/h speed limit is approaching (Like in Germany)

This one is where the limit start to apply (9x10 =90) (Like in Germany)

This one tell you that you can go faster that your current speed but you are still under the "line speed"
You can go at 90km/h once all the train pass this sign.

This one is the line speed : (Here 160 km/h) It's most of the time with a sign that show which line this sign apply to. You can go up to 160 km/h once all the train pass this sign.

"It's most of the time with a sign that show which line this sign apply to". Here is this sign: (The line is the L25)


The ETCS I and II is used around Bruxelles and on the LGV 2

 

4: The rolling stock
In Belgium since there is only one operator like in Germany you will see the same train almost everywhere.

Here are the 2 trains and their carriages that are included in the route:

The HLE 18 :


The HLE 18 can go up to 200 km/h and run on 3kV DC or 25kV AC or 15kV AC.
The HLE 18 or "Type 18" (Literally Class 18) is the father of the Vectron in some ways. It's built by Siemens
and the first prototype of the Vectron is very simillar to Type 18
See by yourself :
The Type 18 is a locomotive so she deserve some coaches :

Here are the M6 "200". They can go up to 200km/h and are used on the most important and fast Intercity services of the country. You will see these on the IC 01 service between Bruxelles and Liège.

There is a variant of the M6 (Or the "original") that can go up to only 160km/h:

The yellow line show that this is the 1st class

 

Belgium is know for Waffle, Beer, Chocolate ? No our wonderfull cab car


Isn't it beautifull ? You will see cab car most of the time when the don't go up to 200km/h and that there is no need for more power.
And the Desiro AM 08 EMU:

These are way less confortable than the M6 and run S-Bahn services most of the time.

We can't forget the ICE 3M DB BR 406 as a layer from SKA: (Here at Liège Guillemins)

 

I'm voting yes on this one as well. We should make the NMBS/SNCB pay for some routes. Something like a sensibility campaign so Belgian commuters start tot respect the personnel a bit more.

 

5: The different services
Here are the different services that you can do on this route including the ICE 3M:


S Services :

S1: Bxl M -> Bxl Chp -> Bxl C -> Bxl Co -> Bxl N -> Scbk
: Scbk -> Bxl N -> Bxl Co -> Bxl C -> Bxl Chp -> Bxl M

34 Services ->
35 Services <-



S2: Hal -> Bzgn -> Lot -> Rsbk -> Frt M -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Scbk -> Hrn S -> Die -> Zav -> Nsgm -> Krtbrg -> Erp-Kwe->Vel->Her->Lvn
: Lvn -> Her -> Vel -> Erp-Kwe -> Krtbrg -> Nsgm -> Zav -> Die -> Hrn S -> Scbk -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Frt M -> Rsbk->Lot->Bzgn->Hal

32 Services ->
32 Services <-


S3: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

18 Services ->
18 Services <-


S4: /



S5: Egn -> Hal
: Hal -> Egn

33 Services ->
33 Services <-


S6: Egn -> Hal -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Scbk
: Scbk -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Hal -> Egn

20 Services ->
19 Services <-


S7: /

S8: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

39 Services ->
40 Services <-


S9: Lvn -> Her -> Krtbrg -> Zav -> Die
: Die -> Zav -> Krtbrg -> Her -> Lvn

16 Services ->
16 Services <-



S10: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

20 Services ->
19 Services <-


S44: Lg -> Ans
: Ans -> Lg

18 Services ->
23 Services <-

Total S Services : 465

IC Services :

IC 01: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Lvn -> Lg
: Lg -> Lvn -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

18 Services ->
19 Services <-

IC 03: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Lvn
: Lvn -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

18 Services ->
20 Services <-

IC 05: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

19 Services ->
19 Services <-


IC 06: Egn -> Hal -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Die -> Zav -> Bxl A
: Bxl A -> Zav -> Die -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Hal -> Egn

40 Services ->
40 Services <-


IC 07: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

19 Services ->
19 Services <-

IC 11: Hal -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Hal

17 Services ->
17 Services <-

IC 12: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Lvn -> Ans -> Lg
: Lg -> Ans -> Lvn -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

19 Services ->
18 Services <-

IC 13: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Scbk
: Scbk -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

13 Services ->
13 Services <-

IC 14: Hal -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Lvn -> //// -> Ans -> Lg
: Lg -> Ans -> //// -> Lvn -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Hal

17 Services ->
18 Services <-

*The Section between Louvain and Ans is on the classic line. Therefore is not playable on this route.

IC 16: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

20 Services ->
19 Services <-

IC 18: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

17 Services ->
19 Services <-

IC 20: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

18 Services ->
18 Services <-

IC 23: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Bxl A
: Bxl A -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

18 Services ->
18 Services <-

IC 26: Egn -> Hal -> Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N
: Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M -> Hal -> Egn

18 Services ->
18 Services <-

IC 29: Bxl M -> Bxl C -> Bxl N -> Bxl A -> Lvn
: Lvn -> Bxl A -> Bxl N -> Bxl C -> Bxl M

19 Services ->
19 Services <-

Total IC Services : 584

ICE Services :

Bxl M -> Lg
Lg -> Bxl M

7 Services ->
6 Services <-

Total ICE Services : 13

Total Services (S+IC+ICE) = 1062 Services

Assignments:

IC 01 : HLE 18 + M6-200 + HLE 18

IC 03: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 05: AM 08 / Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 06: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 07: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 11: AM 08

IC 12: HLE 18 + M6-200 + HLE 18

IC 13: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 14: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 16: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 18: AM 08

IC 20: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 23: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 26: Cab Car+M6-160 + HLE 18 <->

IC 29: AM 08

All S Services are operated by AM 08 (Not IRL but it's pretty close to)

6: Conclusion
I think that this route is great example of what Belgium should like in TSW 4/5/6/9548
Yes.

TL;DR:
-The First time Belgium is coming in TSW
-The route is almost 110 km long
-2 trains are included. An emu and a powerful locomotive that haul double decker coaches
-The Main Station are Bruxelles, Louvain and Liège
-A layer is possible from SKA(The ICE 3M)

Here are the translation of the stations name in French or Dutch and vice-versa:
Enghien -> Edingen
Hal -> Halle
Bruxelles-Midi -> Brussel Zuid (Or South in English)
Bruxelles-Chapelle -> Brussel Kapellekerk
Bruxelles-Central -> Brussel Centraal
Bruxelles-Congres -> Brussel-Congres
Bruxelles-Nord -> Brussel-Noord
Louvain -> Leuven
Liège -> Luik
If you need maps : https://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/1245-2020-07-01.pdf
https://infrabel.be/sites/default/files/generated/files/paragraph/9700-2023-01-01 RIEI 1a.pdf

What do you think about this route ? Share me your thought (Sadly I didn't know about the limit for max image in one thread and I had to cut it in different pieces)

 

Yes and no they are services that are copy paste and can be removed

 

So are you gonna build it with the editor?

 

Give me 300 years

 

Really a great suggestion!
I would now like to drive this route with the ICE just because of all the existing route this has something very unique = variation everything in a short distance along with others typical Belgian trains
directly from Liege to Brussels South with a lot of senery on the way.


Can't wait to see one of many important trains for example this amazing train in to the game
MR08 Desiro ML






From Convenience a few more pictures of almost every meaning in rail traffic

 

Your cabride between Brussel Airport and Brussel South helped me doing this thread !

 

thanks,
it's a pleasure to see even more people with an great passion for Belgian Railways.

 

Let me guess L36 L0 merged with L96 Bruxelles Gare du Midi Enghien Flamande. For L36 & L0 this can have a dlc loco HLE16 with I10 coach or later I11 coach the latter needs HLE13 HLE22 to push it up a steep ramp. Older EMU DLC MS39-79 Automotrice 39-79 the first one is Dutch language terminology and second is French terminology for the Classic EMUs.

 

I support this.

 

Great proposal. I live closeby Guillemins and I love doing the traject on the LGV2 and even the classic line L36 running alongside it. I proposed the route with a border crossing like the new Voralberg Route.

AACHEN - LIÈGE-GUILLEMINS-LEUVEN-BRUXELLES-MIDI.
Using High speed line LGV2 with ICE3m and IC (M6 ‘200’, M7, I11 coaches pulled by HLE18 or 19 locomotives).
High speed line running from Aachen, crossing the border with the ICE3 into Liège Guillemins and there meeting all the glorious Belgian trains. Moving from Liège we pass Ans.

Ans is where LGV2 separates for the ICE and Belgian IC trains. (There is a possibility to add the TGV DUPLEX with a renewed Thalys livery and interior. You’ll need the TGV PBKA version for this to work on Belgian and german lines.)

CLASSIC LINE 36:
A line used by classing commuter trains and also longer dinstance trains only running up to 160km/h and stopping frequently at stations on the line.
In between Ans and Landen we have a hand full of stations with Waremme being a bigger one.

After landen where multiple layers come together with Line 52 coming from Hasselt merging into L36. Which ads more IC and S services all running up to Leuven or Bruxelles-Midi. Also freight services with the BR186 and Vectron can be included from here, they cross the entire country.

*Keep in mind, there are completly no freight services in between Aachen and Landen on this route, even not on the classic line between Liège and Landen.*

After Landen whe pass Tienen, an important city ik our contry with the big sugar factory located there which provides our entire country of sugar.

we ride further along and reaching the most important station of this route.

LEUVEN:
Being a big station, and also being a beautifull city. All IC and S services make a brief stop here.

The freight services which come from Genk/Hasselt pass trough Leuven and run up ti Brussels and further and also seperato onto other branch lines running to Namur, Antwerp and many other places in Belgium.

Our ICE and IC (Thalys is possible) services coming of LGV2 which started at LIEGE/ANS pass trough here and come back onto the mainline L36N as mentioned in your proposal.

THE ICE and THALYS would pass this station at 160KM/H and run all the way up to Bruxelles-midi without making any further stops. Their final stop is Brux-Midi. Only the Thalys will continue it’s journey up to Paris-Nord.

THE NMBS/SNCB IC trains will make a brief stop here making his way further onto brussels. They stop at Brussels-Nord, Brussels-Central and finally Brussels-South. Keep in mind not all IC trains end their journey in brussels some of them (the ones coming from Eupen, Welkenreadt and Liège continue their journey to Oostende (belgian coast), Blankenberge, Brugge, Kortrijk,…) .

the S services will stop at every station on L36N.

you can already see theres a lot to do with this route even more than yours I think. A lot of trains, a lot of services, lines merging together onto the busiest line in Belgium, a lot of diversity and dont forget the beautifull scenery.

I think this line would be perfect for introducing Belgium into the world of train simulation.

you perfectly pulled off southeastern highspeed with the expansion included. I think this one has the same character.

thankyou for reading and considering.

 

Then the old consoles can get a reduced timetable. Really that simple.

 

I agree with you on that one however you need the big freight yard Société Nationale Chemin du Fer Belge Triage Liège Kinkempois otherwise you are simply ending freight trains at the passenger station Liège Guillemins.

 

Yes and there are multiple services that are only Brussels South - Central - North. The S3, S8, S10, IC 05, IC 07, IC 18, IC 19 and IC 20.
I have included all playable services to make the route alive. Obviously it's not mandatory to have all services.

 

Railway line 21 (Landen - Hasselt )
Could it be that freight travels from Landen to Hasselt ?

YT
CAB RIDE Leuven - Charleroi Ouest


Other options are the L53 for travelers Mechelen - Leuven on the freight area, just before Mechelen is there a freight depot Muizen .
Less than 22 kilometers long between the Depot and the connection of the L36
I have no idea if freight trains on this actually stop at the depot but it seemed like the closest one to mention.

Antwerpen Noord - Leuven