The Railway Position in Belgium.

The Belgian Railways are Government-owned, and rank among the most efficient in Europe. Like railway systems the world over, the Belgian lines have suffered greatly from the competition of the road carrier. To meet changed conditions, many economy schemes have been put into operation. To save in wages, the retiring age of employees has been reduced. Passenger and freight train services have been cut, and savings effected through the closing of many roadside stations and the less important locomotive and carriage and wagon works.

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On many Belgian branch-lines, goods trains now run only on alternate days. Fast rail motor trains have taken the place of heavy steam trains on secondary routes. Freight rates have in many instances been cut by as much as twenty-five per cent. As in Britain, the Belgian railways are co-operating with many of the principal road carriers in the operation of combined rail and road services, while in some instances, where unprofitable branch line services have been discontinued, concessions have been granted to road motor companies to handle the business of the area.