This route goes from Antwerpen-Centraal (Antwerpen Central Station) via Mechelen and Vilvoorde / Brussels Airport-Zaventem to Brussels, with Brussel-Zuid/Bruxelles-Midi al terminus. The length via Vilvoorde is 47,4 km (29,5 miles) long. The length via Brussels Airport Zaventem is 54,2 km (33,7 miles) long. The travel time is between 46 and 58 minutes long for the intercity, depending on the train and 77 minutes for the S-trains. It has the next stations: - Antwerpen-Centraal* - Antwerpen-Berchem* Direct service to... - Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg - Mortsel-Oude God Detour route to... - Mortsel - Mortsel-Liersesteenweg Together further to... - Hove - Kontich-Lint - Duffel - Sint-Katelijne-Waver - Mechelen-Nekkerspoel - Mechelen* S-service to - Weerde - Eppegem - Vilvoorde - Buda Via the Airport - Brussels Airport-Zaventem* - Zaventem - Diegem - Haren-Zuid Together further to... - Schaarbeek - Brussel-Noord* - Brussel-Congres - Brussel-Centraal* - Brussel-Kapellekerk - Brussel-Zuid/Bruxelles-Midi* The services are - Eurostar: Antwerpen-Centraal, Brussel-Zuid - Intercity Direct: Antwerpen-Centraal, Berchem, Mechelen, Brussel Airport-Zaventem, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - Intercity: Antwerpen-Centraal, Berchem, Mechelen, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - Intercity: Antwerpen-Centraal, Berchem, Mortsel-Oude God, Mechelen (-Nekkerspoel), Vilvoorde, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - Intercity: Antwerpen-Centraal, Berchem, Mechelen, Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - Intercity: Brussels Airport-Zaventem, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - S1: All stations between Antwerpen-Centraal and Brussel-Zuid via Mortsel-Oude God & Vilvoorde - S1: All stations between Antwerpen-Centraal and Brussel-Zuid via Mortsel & Vilvoorde - S2 & S9: Zaventem, Diegem, Haren-Zuid, Schaarbeek, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - S6 & S8: Schaarbeek, Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid - S10: Brussel-Noord, -Centraal & -Zuid ... and freight trains can be placed too Most S-trains and some intercity services are operated by the MR08, of Siemens Desiro Mainline. It can drive 160 km/h (99,4 mph) and can even drive on the HSL to Noorderkempen and to Luxembourg. It would be the backbone for this layout. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Railways_Class_08 The Eurostar Service is served by the Eurostar PB(K)A trains from originally Thalys. Due to the effort, the TGV Réseau can be built better, while it can be used on other French routes. I'm not from Belgium, so I don't really know which trains also drive on this route, bus a list of all trains of Belgianrail can be found on this link (caution, the page is in Dutch) The length sounds a little short in comparison to other routes, but I think that our idea routes are actually too long. The number of services makes it a route that won't bore. Also, the number of stations made it look longer. The network is equipped with a 3kV DC voltage system. It also had ETCS 1, which already has been built on the Luzern-Sursee line. South of Buda station and between Diegem and Haren-Zuid, you can find the border between the Flemish Region and the Brussels Region. In Flanders, Dutch-sounding Flemish is the main language; in Brussels, it is Flemish and French-sounding Wallonish together. By law, the information in Flanders is Flemish only and in Brussels Flemish and Wallonish. In Wallonia (not in this layout) it is Wallonish only. An interesting thing about the start of the route: Antwerpen Station is called one of the most beautiful train stations in the World. It has three platform levels, of which the deepest allows continuing to the Netherlands. Mechelen station. Brussels Airport-Zaventem Schaarbeek. It has the National Railway Museum Train World located Brussel-Noord Brussel-Centraal. Like Brussel-Congres it is underground and with Brussel-Kapellekerk it is part of the busy and important Brussel North-South connection. Delays are common. Brussel-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi
I think Essen (BE) to brussels via antwerpen could be a better route rolling stock AM,MS08 HLE 18 + M6 (nmbs,sncb) we need a route for Eurostar (thalys) longer the route is too short between Antwerp and Brussels Essen (BE) >> Brussels via antwerp it's 90 km could be a better choose long route a lot of services in Flanders with S32 and IC to Charlerois and a base of rolling stock in belguim with a route could be offers a good timetable with 12 trains per hour between Antwerp and Brussels and 2 between Antwerp Berchem and essen (BE)
If you want freight services here Société Nationale Chemin du Fer Belge Wallonia French speaking Belgium in Flanders Nationale Maatschappij Belgische Spoorwegen the following rolling stock are used HLR77 HLE13 HLE28 Bombardier. Of these only HLR77 7771-7871 HLE28 are PZB LZB equipped making them Belgian rolling stock capable of Crossing into Germany
HLE 13 could be added too but i think with a another route the BR 193 could be added in AI at antwerp
