Winter brownouts mean no trains, warns Belgian Rail Company

If the federal government’s plans for selectively turning off the electricity supply to certain areas this winter, a so-called brownout, are implemented, all train traffic in Belgium would come to a standstill, according to the National Belgian Railway authority SNCB.

The proposed brownout plan is a precaution in case power supplies run short this winter, as a result of the closing of several of the country’s nuclear reactors. "Without electricity, there are no trains. You understand that this is a very urgent problem," warns Jo Cornu, CEO of SNCB.

According to Cornu, trains would be cancelled everywhere in the case of a brownout, not just in the affected areas. Even though 85% of the trains are powered from overhead wires, the requisite signal boxes, road barriers and junctions are connected to local power supplies.

“The trains will not operate without these lights and signals, as it would be too dangerous,” confirms a security analyst from Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel.

A working group has been set up with SNCB, Infrabel and the ministries of energy, economy and mobility to come up with a solution.