How Ghent’s North Sea Port Is Boosting Rail Capacity

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In the Ghent section of North Sea Port, a series of rail upgrades is reshaping how cargo moves between quays, factories and the European hinterland, with longer tracks, redesigned yards and new cross-border links all aimed at pushing more freight onto trains.

Major yard renovations unlock longer freight trains

One of the most visible changes in Ghent’s part of North Sea Port is the renovation of the Mercator rail yard, a key junction close to major industrial sites such as Volvo Car Gent and steel and logistics facilities. Publicly available information shows that six freight tracks at this yard have been renewed and extended to around 750 meters, allowing longer trains to be marshalled and handled more efficiently.

The Mercator yard has been described in trade coverage as one of the busiest freight yards in the port area, handling several thousand train movements a year. Before the works, capacity was reported to be reaching its limit, creating pressure on operators and shippers that rely on predictable rail slots. The upgraded, longer tracks are designed to relieve this bottleneck, reduce shunting moves and cut the time trains spend in the yard.

Infrastructure manager investments at Mercator go beyond simply lengthening rails. Track layouts and switches on the Ghent side have been reconfigured to streamline flows between the yard, nearby industrial sidings and the broader Belgian network. Industry publications emphasize that these changes are intended to improve reliability for both domestic services within Belgium and international freight trains traveling deeper into Europe.

Logistics sector reports indicate that operators such as rail freight company Lineas expect to use the renewed yard to assemble heavier, longer trains serving automotive, steel and intermodal traffic. By enabling 750 meter formations, the yard helps each individual train move more cargo, which supports a shift from road to rail and aligns with regional climate and congestion objectives.

Track bundles at Zandeken tie port quays into the network

A second pillar of Ghent’s rail capacity drive is the upgrading of track bundles around Zandeken, on the Ghent side of the canal. Project documentation for the Rail Ghent Terneuzen scheme highlights this zone as a key node linking deep-sea and inland terminals at the Kluizendok with the national and cross-border rail network.

The Zandeken bundle has been modernized with renewed tracks and improved connections toward port terminals. According to project updates, these works are intended to accommodate more frequent freight services and prepare for future increases in train length and weight. By reinforcing this hub within the Ghent port area, planners aim to create smoother flows between maritime quays, warehousing zones and inland destinations.

Rail corridor implementation plans referenced by industry bodies list Zandeken alongside Mercator and other bundles as part of a coordinated program to expand internal port capacity. Renovation of access tracks, better signaling and simplified layouts are intended to make it easier for locomotives to move wagons between different industrial clusters without lengthy detours or conflicts with passenger services.

For port users, the upgraded Zandeken infrastructure translates into more flexible train paths and greater resilience when disruptions occur elsewhere in the network. From a travel and logistics perspective, it reinforces Ghent’s position as a multimodal node where maritime, road and rail routes intersect, offering shippers additional options for routing containers, vehicles and bulk cargo.

Cross-border Rail Ghent Terneuzen project widens the gateway

Beyond individual yards and bundles, Ghent’s part of North Sea Port is at the center of the Rail Ghent Terneuzen project, a binational effort involving partners in Belgium and the Netherlands. Official project material describes a program to upgrade and, in some sections, reopen rail links between the Ghent industrial area and Terneuzen on the Dutch side of the port.

The scheme focuses on improving northern access to the Zandeken bundle, enhancing the railway between locations such as Zelzate and Sluiskil and strengthening connections on the Dutch bank of the canal. The goal is to create a more direct, higher capacity corridor so that freight trains do not need to make lengthy detours to cross the border, which currently limits the competitiveness of rail in some supply chains.

Planning documents emphasize the role of this cross-border investment in supporting a modal shift from trucks to trains. By offering smoother, faster rail routes from Ghent-based industries to Dutch terminals and then onward into the European hinterland, the project aims to take pressure off congested roads and reduce emissions connected with port-related transport.

For travelers and logistics planners alike, Rail Ghent Terneuzen illustrates how port regions are rethinking infrastructure at a corridor scale. Instead of seeing Ghent and Terneuzen as separate endpoints, the new rail link positions the shared North Sea Port as a single, integrated gateway that can compete more effectively with larger ports along the North Sea coast.

Port rail strategies target higher modal share and greener logistics

The local infrastructure works in Ghent are taking place within a broader strategic push by North Sea Port and rail partners to increase the share of freight moved by train. A recent joint rail logistics vision for the port region sets out measures to lift rail’s share of freight movements significantly by the end of this decade, signaling that the current 10 percent level is seen as only a starting point.

This vision, according to publicly available statements and planning documents, stresses cooperation between the port authority and infrastructure managers to coordinate investments, simplify operational processes and promote longer, heavier trains where feasible. The renewed 750 meter tracks in Ghent fit squarely within this approach, as they allow each path on the network to carry more cargo.

Parallel initiatives focus on better organizing rail services for companies clustered along the Ghent waterfront. Group procurement for rail services and the allocation of specific rail zones to dedicated operators are intended to consolidate volumes and ensure that smaller shippers can access competitive rail options. Reports indicate that new service contracts are being phased in from 2026 to support this effort.

Environmental considerations are increasingly central to these strategies. As ports look to cut greenhouse gas emissions from hinterland transport, rail offers a lower-emission option compared with road haulage, especially for bulk and high-volume flows. The upgrades in the Ghent section of North Sea Port are presented in project literature as investments that not only boost capacity, but also help the region meet climate and air quality targets.

Industrial growth and energy transition push demand for rail

Rail expansion in Ghent is also a response to wider industrial and energy trends in the port cluster. The Ghent part of North Sea Port hosts major automotive, steel and logistics operations, and new projects linked to electrification and low-carbon industry are increasing demand for both reliable energy supply and efficient freight links.

Recent announcements on power grid upgrades in the Ghent area show how planners expect electricity consumption to rise sharply as ports and factories adopt more electric equipment, from shore power and charging hubs to electrified process industries. In this context, rail capacity gains are seen as complementary, enabling the movement of raw materials, components and finished products without a matching increase in truck traffic.

For international travelers visiting Ghent or using the city as a base to explore the wider region, these rail investments may not be immediately visible, as they are largely concentrated in freight yards and industrial zones away from passenger stations. Over time, however, a stronger freight network can help free up capacity on mixed-use lines, indirectly supporting more reliable regional and intercity passenger services.

From a tourism and business travel standpoint, the transformation of Ghent’s port rail network reflects a broader trend in European ports, where freight corridors, clean energy projects and urban accessibility are being planned together. The changes underway in North Sea Port’s Ghent section suggest that future visitors may experience a city and port region where heavy industry, logistics and sustainable mobility are more closely integrated than in the past.