INAUGURATION of the Liefkenshoek Tunnel in Antwerp

9 December 2014 - Events - Belgium

On 9 December 2014, Infrabel, the Belgian railway infrastructure manager, inaugurated the Liefkenshoek rail link, which opened to traffic on 14 December. Located between the two banks of the Escaut estuary, this new underground link comes in response to increased goods traffic in the port of Antwerp. The project was implemented within the framework of a public-private partnership (DBFM contract) covering the financing, design and construction of the infrastructure and then its maintenance for 38 years. It represents a total investment of €840m and was awarded to the LocoRail joint venture, which brings together CFE (25%), VINCI Concessions (25%) and BAM PPP-PGGM (50%). The design and construction (infrastructure and technical installations) were awarded to the LocoBouw consortium, composed of MBG, CEI-De Meyer, VINCI Construction Grands Projets and Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau.