These items come from Line News International ISSN 1354-0947 (c) The Branch Line Society 2002 International Editor: Brian Philp, 11 Arden Street, Edinburgh EH9 1BR, Scotland, UK, rail@rinbad.demon.co.uk

2002

2017][BE] Belgium: Train+Tram+Bus day: (R.1612) TTB day in 2002 is to be Saturday 28 September. (SNCB/NMBS)

2070][BE] Antwerpen trams: The 4.3km extension of line 3 from Linkeroever to Zwijndrecht was inaugurated on 15 February 2002. (Today's Railways, April 2002)

2108][BE][DE] Montzen - Viaduc de Moresnet SNCB/NMBS - Tunnel de Botzelaer - Aachen West DB: (BLN 852.0330; Ball 9B2-10A2; SNCB/NMBS 24) Part of the Militär Eisenbahn Direktion Brüssel built by the Germans during World War I (http://www.rinbad.demon.co.uk/be_montz.htm), this double-track non-passenger route carries most of the rail freight between Belgium and Germany. Over the period January 2002 to January 2005 SNCB/NMBS are rebuilding the 1120m-long 58m-tall Moresnet viaduct. During eleven weekends when sections of the bridge-decking are being replaced, the route will be closed, and the more important freight trains will be diverted by Montzen - Welkenraedt (line 39) and the Welkenraedt SNCB/NMBS - Aachen Hbf main passenger line (line 37). Once the viaduct has been rebuilt, SNCB/NMBS plan at last to electrify the c.7km gap from the end of the Belgian 3000V dc wires at Montzen yard to the start of the German 15kV 16.7Hz wiring at the eastern portal of the Botzelaer or Gemmenich tunnel under the frontier. (Trans-fer, #123, April 2002)

2127][FR][BE] Nancy rail-guided trolleybuses: Essey - Brabois: Public service began 11 February 2001, but accidents in March 2001 led to closure after a few weeks (R.1166, 1273). Though test-running resumed in August 2001, only on 13 March 2002 did the trolleybuses return to service, initially with twelve vehicles operating, supplemented by conventional buses. The Bombardier TVR (Transport sur Voie Réservée) trolleybuses have rubber-tyred wheels and draw electric power from overhead wiring, but they can be guided mechanically by a double-flanged wheel engaging a single tram-rail recessed into the roadway.

2241][BE] Antwerpen Haven - Lier: (Ball 8B3 not shown) To avoid bottlenecks at Antwerpen and Berchem, NMBS resolved as long ago as 1992 to build a new freight-only line from the major port of Antwerpen south-east to Lier, and plan to start work by the end of 2002, with a view to completion in 2012. The route now chosen parallels the E313 motorway and dives under the Albert Kanaal in tunnel. (International Railway Journal, June 2002)

2278][BE] Han-sur-Lesse Église - Entrée des Grottes de Han: (R.0853; Ball 17A3 not shown) From the church at Han-sur-Lesse, then on the Rochefort - Han - Wellin metre-gauge Vicinal line, this tramway to the famous Grotte de Han originally ran for 3.7km to terminate on the summit of the hill above the caves at Faule. Inaugurated on 1 June 1906, the line was dismantled in 1916 during World War I, but reopened to tourist traffic in 1920. It was originally part of the Vicinal system, but in 1955, after closure of the other lines in SNCV's Wellin group, the unelectrified line was leased to the Societé anonyme pour l'exploitation du chemin de fer de la Grotte de Han as operators. On 29 March 1968, following the construction of 1.7km of new track, the upper section was diverted, and rather than climbing, it thereafter skirted a game-park in a broad curve to terminate at the entrance to the caves, the new length being quoted as 3.282km in A Guide to Narrow Gauge Railways on the Continent (VR Belot 1986, translated into English 1987). From 9 July 1989, to simplify operation and improve the service, the metre-gauge line was modified at the lower end to run off-street in a balloon-loop round a park in the centre of the village. The length now may be slightly greater than in 1968 but is less than the 5.3km quoted in R.0853.

From Jemelle station on the Namur - Arlon (- Luxembourg) line, a connecting bus runs to Han-sur-Lesse, and an SNCB excursion ticket is available, covering return main-line rail travel, bus, tramway and entry to the caves. From Han a tourist visit to the caves costs EUR10.30, the ticket including a one-way tram trip. From the turning-circle in the village up to three separate trains, each comprising a diesel autorail-tracteur with enclosed seating towing three open-sided vehicles, set off in convoy and climb through the woods at impressive speed to the cave-entrance. Cave visitors are then guided along an underground walking route of some 3km, part of a total system of some 14km, and eventually board electrically-powered boats that emerge some 500m from the starting-point of the tram-trip. The visit is full of surprises and is highly recommended. (http://www.grotte-de-han.be/fr/han/tram2.html)

2280][NL][BE] (Amsterdam - Schiphol -) Hoofddorp - Rotterdam - Barendrecht - Kijfhoek - Dordrecht - Lage Zwaluwe - Breda NS - Noorderkempen NMBS - Antwerpen Centraal (- Brussel): (R.0669, 1523, 1550; Ball 3B3-3B1-8B3) In June 2002 works for the 25kV 50Hz electrified Hogesnelheidslijn (= high-speed line) could be seen south of Hoofddorp where the new route diverges, near Rotterdam Centraal where it again converges (R.2281), and near Barendrecht and Kijfhoek (R.2284). South of Dordrecht the HSL emerges from under the A16 motorway and the formation was visible as far as the new bridge over the Hollands Diep, where the pillars of the bridge were being sunk into the waterway. The new line then follows the motorway and the existing railway as far as the Prinsenbeek area of Breda. The works could again be seen running parallel with the existing line near Luchtbal, north of Antwerpen. The site of the closed depot at Antwerpen Dam was being cleared, and the HSL will descend here into the tunnel beneath the city to serve the deep-level through platforms at Antwerpen Centraal.

2302][BE] Anderlues - Lobbes - Thuin heritage trams: (R.1099, 1777; Ball 8B1 not shown) Metre-gauge track continues to give access from Charleroi's tram system at Anderlues to the museum at Thuin of preservation group Association pour la Sauvegarde du Vicinal. By 22 June 2002 this section had had its overhead equipment overhauled, with numerous masts being replaced and modern insulators fitted instead of old ones. (ASVi)

2332][BE] Pont d'Erezée - Blier - Amonines - Forge-à-l'Aplez - Dochamps ( - Lamorménil): (BLN 762.0404; Ball 9B1 not shown) South of Liège, a 9km section of the former Comblain-la-Tour - Erezée - Dochamps - Manhay line of Belgium's once-extensive metre-gauge Vicinal system became the Tramway Touristique de l'Aisne. The preservation group were founded in 1964 and a tourist operation began 3 July 1966. Pont d'Erezée is the TTA's main station, with a log-cabin-style office and a car-park. Tickets are sold on the train. Fare for the 50min round-trip from Pont d'Erezée to Forge-à-l'Aplez is EUR6. The line's maintenance facilities are at Blier, a short distance to the south. The line has great charm and runs through a wooded valley with a significant gradient up from Pont d'Erezée. The intermediate stop at Amonines has a level-crossing. Forge-à-l'Aplez (shown as Forges-à-l'Aplé in the 1935 Vicinal timetable) is no more than a simple wooden shelter in the middle of the two tracks that form the run-round loop in a deeply rural setting. The section beyond Forge-à-l'Aplez to Dochamps is not always traversed, trains being shown in the timetable as likely to be suspended in case of rain or impossibilité technique. The ideal weather for a run to Dochamps seems to be a dry but dull day. On Sunday 28 July 2002, a fine day with a temperature of 30°C or more, the 14:00 train was a diesel autorail with enclosed seating, towing an open-sided baladeuse, and it appears that Dochamps has no loop to run round a trailer. The stock to form this working arrived at Pont d'Erezée as a three-coach train. The power-car ran round and the last vehicle was left behind as an advertisement with the TTA's full name displayed prominently to motorists on the road junction close to the end of the line. The 14:00 and 15:00 workings each carried about 15 passengers, but according to the train-conductor, TTA finances remain tight and do not allow the frequent steam operation that might draw larger crowds to their isolated line. The line runs on Sundays and public holidays from Easter to 13 October 2002, and also Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 14 July to 24 August. TTA's website says extension to Lamorménil is planned. Information: http://www.tta.be; TTA, Dépôt de Blier, B-6997 Erezée; telephone +32 8647 7269.

2390][BE] Han-sur-Lesse Église - Entrée des Grottes de Han: (R.2278; Ball 17A3 not shown) By paying the conductor on board rather than booking at the ticket-office, one can make the round-trip by tram. This allows one to travel on the short inward part of the balloon-loop at Han-sur-Lesse, and at a cheaper fare than the (interesting) inclusive tour through the caves, so may suit those of an obsessive, miserly or claustrophobic disposition.

2453][BE][NL] Neerpelt - Hamont NMBS - Budel NS - Weert: (R.0969; Ball 9B3) This international line has no ordinary passenger trains, but for several years a service has run annually on Belgium's Train+Tram+Bus day. On Saturday 28 September 2002 a Neerpelt - Weert shuttle operated, with the last departure from Weert as late as 20:55, allowing Belgian families a mid-evening return from the large fair held in the streets of the Dutch town.

2562][DE][BE] German border-crossings and line-ownership - 3: The real curiosity remains the section of the Vennbahn whose infrastructure was ceded by international treaty after World War I to become a ribbon of Belgian territory running through Germany (Raeren - Roetgen - Lammersdorf - Konzen - Monschau - Kalterherberg - Sourbrodt - Weywertz; http://www.rinbad.demon.co.uk/be_venn.htm; R.1459; Ball DE-37A1, BE-10A2). In recent years run as a heritage railway, the Belgian Vennbahn seems to have had financial difficulties, with no trains advertised in summer 2002, and equipment up for sale in autumn 2002. Should the railway ever be dismantled, the treaty envisages the trackbed reverting to being German territory.