VUB study proposes new Midi-Schuman rail tunnel

A new tunnel connecting Brussels' Gare du Midi with Schuman could ease congestion along the city's saturated north-south rail route and improve journey times, according to VUB researchers.

A new study by the university, Rail 4 Brussels, published by Brussels Studies, sets out nine possible options to reduce delays through central Brussels, where up to 90 trains per hour pass during peak times.

The proposed tunnel would follow the existing tunnel between Gare du Midi and Brussels Central station, before turning off towards Schuman.

The more direct route would mean trains to Schuman would no longer have to pass North Station before doing a U-turn through Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse.

Researchers say this would free up space in the city-centre tunnel - as well as opening up a new route possibility from the Gare du Midi to Zaventem airport via the EU district.

Another option that the study says "appears worth of further investigation" involves having more trains circumvent the city centre to the west via Simonis and Tour & Taxis, or to the east via Delta and Mérode.

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