Belgium and the Netherlands have taken a step towards improving cross-border rail connectivity, with a potential direct Brussels to Eindhoven train emerging as one of the most symbolic and politically significant projects in a newly signed joint declaration on rail cooperation.
The declaration was signed on 18 February 2026 in Antwerp by Belgian Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) and outgoing Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management Thierry Aartsen (VVD), marking a renewed commitment to accelerate long-discussed cross-border rail projects. The agreement aims to deepen cooperation between governments, infrastructure managers and railway companies, with a broader framework agreement expected to be finalised this summer.
A strategic Brussels–Eindhoven axis
At the heart of the declaration is the ambition to explore a direct rail link between Brussels and Eindhoven, connecting the Belgian capital with the Dutch Brainport region, one of Europe’s most important high-tech hubs and home to semiconductor giant ASML and a dense innovation ecosystem.
Despite the economic and political ties between the two cities, the rail connection remains fragmented. Travellers typically need to change trains multiple times, with journey times ranging from around 2.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the route, or even longer in practice when connections are missed.
Thierry Aartsen previously criticised the current situation in the Dutch parliament, noting that travelling from ASML’s headquarters in Eindhoven to Brussels, the European Union‘s capital, can require several transfers and take hours. Both governments now recognise the strategic importance of a faster, more reliable rail corridor linking the technology cluster to European institutions.
Under the joint declaration, Belgium and the Netherlands will investigate possible routes and service models.
Routes
Options range from enhancing services on existing infrastructure via Antwerp, Breda and Tilburg, to reopening or building entirely new rail corridors. One scenario discussed in Belgian and Dutch media is a new line roughly parallel to the E34 motorway, though such a project would likely cost hundreds of millions or even billions of euros.
Another possibility involves reusing or extending existing lines, such as the historic Hamont–Weert corridor, or reinstating a link between Turnhout and Tilburg, closed in the late 1980s.
But using High Speed Line 4 (Belgium) and High Speed Line South (Netherlands) looks like the more logical choice.
A historical connection revived after nearly a century
The idea of a direct Eindhoven–Brussels train is not entirely new. According to Dutch rail analyst Martijn van Vulpen, a direct express service already operated briefly in 1938, but was discontinued after just one year due to low demand.
Also, linking Brussels to Eindhoven was a rumour in 2022. The idea was to extend the the Charleroi-Brussels-Antwerp service to Noorderkempen, and then to Breda and perhaps Eindhoven. Thát would be a long journey, but you could cut off the Charleroi part.
Earlier, a railway line linking Hasselt, Valkenswaard and Eindhoven had been built in the 19th century with ambitions of connecting Belgian industrial regions with Dutch ports and international destinations, but it never reached its full potential.
The revival of the concept in 2026 reflects a radically different context: booming cross-border commuting, the rise of the Brainport technology cluster, growing European integration, and increasing pressure to shift mobility from road and air to rail.
Broader rail cooperation agenda
While the Brussels–Eindhoven link is the most high-profile passenger project, the declaration covers a wide range of rail initiatives.
Passenger rail improvements
Both countries want to increase capacity and reliability between Belgium and the Dutch province of North Brabant, including improvements to the existing S32 Antwerp–Roosendaal service and EuroCity Brussels–Rotterdam connections. They also aim to improve the performance of the Tri-Country Train linking Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, and to explore the restoration of passenger services between Hamont and Weert, suspended since 1991.
Discussions are also ongoing about reopening other cross-border routes, such as Hasselt–Maastricht, which has been the subject of political and legal disputes following the cancellation of a planned cross-border tram project.
Freight corridors and the 3RX project
On the freight side, the declaration revives cooperation on the 3RX corridor, an alternative to the historic Iron Rhine freight route connecting the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to Germany’s Ruhr region via Venlo. The original Iron Rhine route is politically sensitive because it crosses a Dutch national park, but the 3RX proposal uses largely existing infrastructure with targeted upgrades.
Other freight priorities include strengthening rail connections between the ports of Ghent and Terneuzen, with plans for a new line between Zelzate and Sluiskil to support future industrial and logistics growth.
Military mobility and resilience
Reflecting broader European security concerns, the declaration also highlights military mobility, rail resilience and capacity management. Both countries want to ensure that rail networks can support defence logistics and supply chains, aligning with new European Union capacity regulations.
Governance and next steps
To prevent the projects from stalling, Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed on a structured governance framework. Ministers responsible for mobility will meet at least once a year, supported by a bilateral working group meeting twice annually and expert-level consultations on individual projects. Regional authorities and infrastructure managers will be involved where necessary.
Next step: summer 2026
The goal is to translate the declaration into a concrete framework agreement by summer 2026, although funding for major new infrastructure, particularly the Brussels–Eindhoven passenger link, has not yet been secured.
A test case for cross-border rail in Europe
The renewed push for a Brussels to Eindhoven train comes at a time when cross-border rail is gaining political momentum across Europe, driven by climate targets, economic integration and security concerns. If realised, the corridor could become a flagship example of regional integration, linking Europe’s political centre with one of its most advanced technology ecosystems.
Reality check
However, significant challenges remain, including saturated rail capacity between Brussels and Antwerp, complex infrastructure decisions, and the high costs of new lines.
Whether the century-old ambition of a direct Eindhoven–Brussels train finally becomes reality will depend on political will, funding commitments and the ability of both countries to overcome longstanding bottlenecks.
For now, the joint declaration marks the clearest political signal in decades that the project is back on the agenda, and that cross-border rail cooperation between Belgium and the Netherlands is entering a new phase.
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