The Belgian government announced in March
that national railways SNCB (turnover of €3.7
billion in 2003, with 42,000 staff members) will
be split into two companies soon:
- one
responsible for managing the infrastructure,
- other in charge of operating services.
A
new holding owning the two sister companies
will be set up. This evolution, which takes into
account the European regulations on railways,
is part of a broader plan Move 2007, which aims
to cut operational deficit by 2007 through 3,000
lay-off.