Launch of Dutch-Belgian-German train delayed 3 weeks due to storms

The planned restart of the train line connecting Maastricht with both the Belgian city of Liège and Aachen in Germany has been delayed by three more weeks. The route was supposed to start up again on Sunday, but “significant damage to the infrastructure on the route between Visé and Eijsden as a result of recent thunderstorms” has caused further problems, according to the train operators.

The route is known as the Drielandentrein in the Netherlands because it stops in three countries. It is also known as LIMAX in reference to the three main cities where it stops, with the X a short form of “express.”

Repair work has already been completed, but additional and necessary work still needs to be carried out “to protect the rail infrastructure in the event of future flooding,” said Arriva, which also wrote partly on behalf of train operators NS and NMBS.

They said they “deeply regret” that the start of the Drielandentrein has to be postponed. The new expectation is that the train will start running from Sunday, June 30.

Passengers can use the service to travel from Maastricht to both Liège and Aachen without having to change trains. This is meant to make it easier for residents along the border region to take the train for work, school, and family visits as well as other recreational trips.