At the Mercator rail yard in Ghent, freight trains can now make use of six refurbished, long tracks each measuring 750 metres. With this, North Sea Port strengthens its position on the European rail map. The Mercator Yard is the second most important rail infrastructure site managed by Infrabel in the Ghent area.
These 750-metre tracks meet Europe’s demand for increased rail freight transport and represent an operational improvement for rail services. Longer freight trains can now be accommodated on these tracks, reducing transport costs. Sustainable transport is also beneficial for the environment, and the additional capacity offers greater flexibility. These longer tracks therefore benefit both railway companies and the port’s customers. Easier access to the terminals makes rail transport across Europe more attractive. Moreover, this aligns with the modal shift strategy to move more goods by rail instead of road.
"The expansion of the Mercator rail yard is an important lever for a more efficient and sustainable flow of goods in Ghent, within North Sea Port. Flanders is fully committed to multimodal accessibility: this is achieved partly via waterways, but our railways also offer significant opportunities."
The Mercator rail yard lies between the eastern R4 ring road (John F. Kennedylaan) and the Ghent-Terneuzen sea canal, near the Mercator Dock of the same name. The yard is of great importance to North Sea Port and several major companies in the area, including Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, DFDS, Stukwerkers and ArcelorMittal. Freight trains arrive here, are marshalled and then depart again. They carry steel products, finished cars, and components for cars and lorries.
The yard is the second largest in Ghent, after Gent-Zeehaven. This railway infrastructure dates back to 1996 and initially comprised nine tracks ranging from 475 to 620 metres in length, but it soon reached its limits. In 2022 alone, there were almost 4,000 inbound and outbound train movements. An expansion of capacity was essential.
On the Ghent side of the yard, rail infrastructure manager Infrabel redesigned the track layout (tracks and switches). Extra capacity was created by realigning four tracks, installing eight new switches and constructing more than 200 metres of additional rail. On the Zelzate side, the port authority relocated the abutment of the Skaldenbrug bridge to make way for new tracks. In total, Infrabel renewed 12 switches on this side of the yard and added a further 3 km of track.
After the works, six of the nine tracks in the Mercator Yard are now 750 metres or longer. The remaining three tracks measure 545, 580 and 623 metres respectively. By 2029, the yard will also be equipped with signals and automatic switches.
This investment amounts to €12.5 million. The Belgian federal government is contributing €4 million, while the European Union is providing €8.5 million through the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
“The Mercator rail yard shows how rail and port activities reinforce one another. Thanks to longer trains, the port gains capacity and efficiency, encouraging companies to opt for rail. In this way, our ports are becoming more sustainable and more competitive in Europe.”
The upgraded Mercator rail yard fits within the modal shift strategy to transfer as much freight transport as possible from (motor) roads to rail. On average, one freight train removes 50 lorries from the road. Besides infrastructure improvements, operational enhancement of rail transport is a key element in the rail vision of North Sea Port and Infrabel. Examples include digitalisation, an adapted parking policy for freight trains, and more.
“This rail expansion supports our ambition to increase the share of freight transported by rail from 10% to 15%. In doing so, we contribute to the federal government’s goal of doubling rail freight by 2030.”
From the Zandeken yard at the Kluizendok, a direct rail connection to the Netherlands will be constructed in the future as part of the Rail Ghent Terneuzen project. This will enable the combination of cargo from Dutch companies with that of businesses located at Kluizendok. It will make rail transport in and around the port area more accessible for companies with smaller volumes.
In other parts of the port, Infrabel has invested €17 million in recent years in, among other things, 750-metre-long tracks for freight transport. For example, the Gent-Zeehaven marshalling yard—the logistical hub of the port and its largest rail yard—now has two long tracks, and the rail infrastructure there has also been renewed.
Since mid-2024, the Zandeken yard at Kluizendok has had four additional long tracks, making a total of eight. Furthermore, Infrabel is investing in the renewal of industrial rail lines around and within the port, such as in 2022 at nearby Wondelgem and Evergem, where rail connections serving businesses were also upgraded.
At the end of 2024, the Ring Rail Line around Kluizendok was commissioned, creating an additional link between the north side of the Zandeken yard and the terminals at Kluizendok.
"Thanks to the federal government and Europe, we have been able to realise the upgraded Mercator rail yard with six long tracks. This rail infrastructure is essential and provides more capacity and vitality to the port, which is a driving force of our economy. This customer-focused investment supports the modal shift and also has a positive impact on mobility and the environment."
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