This a the map of the Belgian railway network just before the Belgian state began nationalising private railways. The first railways were build by the Belgian state between 1835 and 1843. With Mechelen in the centre of the network, lines were build to the north (Antwerpen), west (Gent, Oostende and England by ferry), east (Liège and Prussia), and south (Brussels, Charleroi, Namur, Mons and France). In the following decades, the Belgian state only build a couple of lines to complete their network, and most railways were build by private companies. Some of these privately build railways were operates by the Belgian state, others were operated privately. Over time many private railways were bought up by others or they cooperated. This resulted in two conglomerates: the Grand Central Belge (GCB) and the Société générale d’exploitation de chemins de fer (SGE). Many railways came into foreign hand, especially in the Ardennes. The strong French presence was felt as a threat by both Belgium and Prussia. In this historical setting the Franco-Prussian war broke out (1870). From 1870 onwards the Belgian state started to nationalise private railways, starting with the SGE.
And the network [anno 1933](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Belgische_spoorwegen_1933_versie_II.png) (the period where it was at its peak density). These are just the regular railroads (running on normal gauge rails). There was also the “Buurtspoorwegen”, which were long-distance tramways on a narrow gauge, which ran where the normal railways didn’t come.
Can you still go to Duinkerke?
And it’s still the exact same trains running the Antwerp – Roosendaal line. Their structural integrity only guaranteed by alternating hundreds of layers of graffiti and grey paint.
Small comment, City south east of Antwerpen is Lier, not Liers. Liers is a town in Wallonia
Crying for the lost Herentals-Aarschot line. Now you’re stuck changing trains in Lier. Also Turnhout-Tilburg is gone, all in all de Kempen is less connected by rail now than in 1870.
You can be sure that the connection between Brussels and Libramont was faster then than now.
That Gent-Zelzate-Terneuzen would have been cool if still exists, being stuck in Zeeuws Vlanderen/Terneuzen without cars/license is a nightmare there.
some of these lines haven’t changed a lot besided now having electrical lines.
The line leading from Diksmuide for example is still the same apart from the electrical lines, it still has one 1 track and it is still in the same spot as it was when the belgians used it during WW1 to take cover after it.
9 comments
This a the map of the Belgian railway network just before the Belgian state began nationalising private railways. The first railways were build by the Belgian state between 1835 and 1843. With Mechelen in the centre of the network, lines were build to the north (Antwerpen), west (Gent, Oostende and England by ferry), east (Liège and Prussia), and south (Brussels, Charleroi, Namur, Mons and France). In the following decades, the Belgian state only build a couple of lines to complete their network, and most railways were build by private companies. Some of these privately build railways were operates by the Belgian state, others were operated privately. Over time many private railways were bought up by others or they cooperated. This resulted in two conglomerates: the Grand Central Belge (GCB) and the Société générale d’exploitation de chemins de fer (SGE). Many railways came into foreign hand, especially in the Ardennes. The strong French presence was felt as a threat by both Belgium and Prussia. In this historical setting the Franco-Prussian war broke out (1870). From 1870 onwards the Belgian state started to nationalise private railways, starting with the SGE.
And the network [anno 1933](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Belgische_spoorwegen_1933_versie_II.png) (the period where it was at its peak density). These are just the regular railroads (running on normal gauge rails). There was also the “Buurtspoorwegen”, which were long-distance tramways on a narrow gauge, which ran where the normal railways didn’t come.
Can you still go to Duinkerke?
And it’s still the exact same trains running the Antwerp – Roosendaal line. Their structural integrity only guaranteed by alternating hundreds of layers of graffiti and grey paint.
Small comment, City south east of Antwerpen is Lier, not Liers. Liers is a town in Wallonia
Crying for the lost Herentals-Aarschot line. Now you’re stuck changing trains in Lier. Also Turnhout-Tilburg is gone, all in all de Kempen is less connected by rail now than in 1870.
You can be sure that the connection between Brussels and Libramont was faster then than now.
That Gent-Zelzate-Terneuzen would have been cool if still exists, being stuck in Zeeuws Vlanderen/Terneuzen without cars/license is a nightmare there.
some of these lines haven’t changed a lot besided now having electrical lines.
The line leading from Diksmuide for example is still the same apart from the electrical lines, it still has one 1 track and it is still in the same spot as it was when the belgians used it during WW1 to take cover after it.