en.Wedoany.com Reported - The governments of the Netherlands and Belgium recently announced a joint allocation of €240 million for the construction of the Ghent-Terneuzen cross-border freight railway project. The funds, equally shared between the two countries, aim to provide a more reliable freight rail connection for the North Sea Port region and the Ghent-Terneuzen canal zone, promoting a shift of freight transport from road to rail.

The project is advancing based on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in early June 2026. The upgrade of the Ghent-Terneuzen cross-border freight railway will effectively enhance rail transport capacity in the North Sea Port area and surrounding industrial zones. According to the project organizers, this railway initiative is a key measure to shift freight transport modes from road to rail, helping to reduce regional carbon emissions and alleviate road traffic congestion.

The Ghent-Terneuzen cross-border freight railway project is of significant importance for the accessibility and economic development of the Zeeland and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen regions. Local authorities have expressed future interest in developing passenger rail services. Currently, approximately 10% of freight transport at the North Sea Port is handled by rail, and the port aims to increase this share to 15% by 2030.

The upgrade focuses on key sections such as the rail connection between Axel and Zelzate on the eastern bank of the canal. The project organizers consist of the North Sea Port, the Dutch railway infrastructure manager ProRail, and the Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel, with the North Sea Port coordinating cross-border aspects. The advancement of this project will further solidify the North Sea Port's position as a European multimodal transport hub and marks a substantive step in cross-border freight infrastructure cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium.