France News: High-speed train traffic between Brussels and the French border will be completely halted from August 12 to 29 for renewal works, according to Infrabel, SNCB, and Eurostar.
Aging signs have been noted on the 27-year-old Brussels-France high-speed line, prompting a decade-long renewal project. The first phase begins this summer post-Olympics, focusing on a 17.6 km section near Leuze-en-Hainaut and Brugelette. Crews will replace 35.2 km of rails, 30,000 sleepers, and 5,500 tons of ballast over 18 days.
Eurostar trains to/from London will detour via Lille Europe, adding 30 minutes to travel. Services between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne will reroute via Mons, also extending journey times by 30 minutes. SNCB train schedules will be adjusted accordingly.
