In 1881, the railway connection Londerzeel-Aalst, via Steenhuffel and Opwijk, was opened. This was a single track that connected the existing railway lines Mechelen - Dendermonde and Brussels - Ghent.
The original intention was to establish a freight connection between Douai and Antwerp. However, it soon became clear that freight transport did not meet expectations, so the railway was used for passenger transport. It was taken out of service on October 4, 1952.
Initially, a morning and an evening train was retained between Opwijk and Aalst, but this was abolished in 1962.
The railway remained abandoned for years until 1978 when the section between Londerzeel and Opwijk was transformed into a cycling and walking path: the Leirekensroute.
(VZW Leireken)

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 14, 2025

The cycle and walking path is located on the old railway bed between Aalst and Londerzeel: a distance of about 20 km. The original railway line 61 was a connection for freight traffic between Douai and Antwerp.
However, it soon became clear that freight transport did not meet expectations, so the track was used for passenger transport.

It was taken out of service on 4 October 1952.

Want to know more? Click through to leirekensroute.be/geschiedenis

Translated by Google •

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Distance 1.18 km

Uphill 0 m

Downhill 0 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Location: Londerzeel, Halle-Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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