But now, as EU military mobility needs increase and other rail lines face capacity issues, the pressure is mounting for action. “It’s getting on [the countries’] nerves,” said a mobility consultant close to the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirming that discussions are accelerating.
“This project is political,” said Thomas De Spiegelaere, spokesperson for the Belgian transport ministry. “Prime Minister [Bart] De Wever has taken control of the project himself.”
Not everyone, however, is fully on board with prioritizing the railway’s revival.
The Dutch, in particular, are less than enthusiastic. Their section is short while the parallel Betuwe line already links Rotterdam to Germany. The reluctance also has commercial roots: the Port of Antwerp has long championed the Iron Rhine, viewing it as a potential challenge to the Port of Rotterdam’s dominance in the region.
“The Netherlands goes along, but they’d rather sabotage it from the inside,” the consultant noted. The Dutch government did not respond to a request for comment.
In Belgium, the current hope is that the military angle will accelerate the project’s reactivation. But as Welter pointed out, “The Netherlands holds the key,” adding that “if it costs them little or nothing, they’ll cooperate.”