OREANDA-NEWS. In 2013, Infrabel achieved positive operating earnings (EBITDA) of €29 million. This was despite government budget cuts resulting from the economic crisis. Overall earnings (EBT) amounted to €24 million. Besides public funding and other sources of finance, for several years we have also invested retained earnings in the rail infrastructure.

The restructuring of the SNCB Group on 1 January 2014 involves significant changes to the scope of Infrabel's activities. This also affects the financial resources at the company's disposal. On the one hand, the balance sheet is boosted by €2 billion. On the other hand, Infrabel has taken on net debts amounting to around €1.8 billion from SNCB Holding.

Financial balance will remain a constant concern in years to come. In order to preserve this balance, clear agreements have been reached between the entities of the former SNCB Group, their management bodies and SNCB Holding. To this end, public funding previously assigned to SNCB Holding is now partly assigned to Infrabel. Infrabel is also making every effort to stabilise the debts it has taken on, and reduce them if possible.

Massive investments

In 2013, Infrabel invested over €1 billion in the Belgian railway infrastructure. In this way, we realised the full investment programme, making us one of the largest investors in the country. The investments are in line with our strategic objectives of safety, punctuality and capacity.

In the next few years, the Belgian rail network will require heavy investment in order to be able to meet rising mobility requirements. The new multi-annual investment plan, approved by the Cabinet in 2013, ensures the continuation and completion of existing rail infrastructure projects.