Belgian railway line 25

{{short description|Railway line in Belgium}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox rail line

|box_width = 300px

|name = Belgian railway line 25

|color =

|logo =

|logo_width =

|image = Nekkerspoel NMBS 809 02.JPG

|image_width = 275px

|caption = NMBS 809 (type MS75) arrives at platform 4 of Mechelen-Nekkerspoel station in 2012

|type =

|system =

|status = Operational

|locale = Belgium

|start = Brussels-North railway station

|end = Antwerpen-Luchtbal railway station

|stations =

|routes = {{Belgium line 25 diagram}}

|daily_ridership =

|open = 1835-2007

|close =

|owner =

|operator = National Railway Company of Belgium

|character =

|stock =

|linelength = {{convert|48|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|tracklength =

|tracks = double track

|gauge = {{track gauge|sg|allk=on}}

|load_gauge =

|electrification = 3000 V DC

|speed =

|elevation =

|map = 275px {{Belgium line 25 diagram|inline=1}}

|map_state = collapsed

}}

The Belgian railway line 25 is a railway line in Belgium connecting Brussels to Antwerp. The section between Brussels and Mechelen was completed on 5 May 1835 and was the first railway in Belgium and the first public passenger steam railway in continental Europe. On 3 May 1836, the second section, between Mechelen and Antwerp, was opened. It was extended to Luchtbal in the north of Antwerp in 2007 by means of a {{ill|lt=tunnel under the city|Railway tunnel under Antwerp|nl|Noord-Zuidverbinding (Antwerpen)}} in order to shorten the route from Amsterdam to Brussels. The total line runs {{cvt|47.6|km}}.{{cite web| url=http://www.belrail.be/F/infrastructure/lignes/025.html| title=Ligne 25 : Bruxelles-Nord - Antwerpen-Centraal| website=BelRail.be| date=10 August 2007}}

Over most of its length, it is paralleled by {{ill|Belgian railway line 27|fr|lt=line 27|Ligne 27 (Infrabel)}} so that four tracks are available. During business hours, line 25 serves fast trains while local trains use line 27.

The line goes through the following stations:

• Brussels-North
• Schaarbeek
• {{ill|Buda railway station|fr|gare de Buda|lt=Buda}}
• Vilvoorde
• Eppegem
• Weerde
• Mechelen
• Mechelen-Nekkerspoel
• Sint-Katelijne-Waver
• Duffel
• Kontich
• Hove
• Mortsel-Oude-God
• Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg
• Antwerpen-Berchem
• Antwerpen-Central
• Antwerpen-Luchtbal