In Zeebrugge, rail transport is a very important partner for the supply and transport of maritime cargo. In 2000, 205,000 railway wagons accounted for a cargo volume of 5 million tons, or 14 % of the hinterland traffic.
More than 65 % of these wagons involve the transport of containers.  Via the ‘North European Network’ (NEN), Zeebrugge is connected with important inland terminals such as Antwerp, Athus, Duisburg, Muizen, Bressoux, Mouscron and Genk by means of daily block trains. From these railway platforms, the containers are further distributed over the European continent.  The transport of new cars represents about 40,000 wagons (20 %), whereas combined transport (trailers on track) accounts for 20,000 movements (10 %). Furthermore, rail also plays an important role in the transport of conventional cargo (fruit, sugar, paper pulp, pipes,…).

As rail traffic continues to grow, the Port Authority pleads for the construction of a third track between Zeebrugge and Bruges and for the extension of the section between Bruges and Ghent by a third and fourth track.  In the port itself  the marshalling yard was modernized for the efficient arrangement of wagons into long block trains.