BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 12, 1950.

Following the encouragement by the Liberals and FEDACOL of investments in tobacco and other goods being produced in the Belgian Congo, the Socialists have decided to return to what they know best: the development of a strong national industry based on the manufacturing of durable goods and resources. This is inspired by the early Spaak-Eyskens program and the The Belgian Institute for Industrial Research. However, the main issue that has been pointed out is the need to modernize the regional infrastructure to lower prices and encourage our industries to produce higher-quality locomotives, as well as reduce our dependence on coal.

In the face of these requirements, the Belgian government has unveiled the National Electrification Initiative (INE/NEI), a program that has the intention of both modernizing the railway network of the country and also encouraging the production of new locomotives that can address both our demands and the demands of our neighbors.

The National Electrification Initiative

With an estimated 5,034 kilometers of railways in Belgium, the government has recognized the necessity of investing a substantial sum of money in electrifying our network. Electrification offers improved energy efficiency, reduced pollution, which is highly beneficial to the city denizens, and lower operating costs. However, the primary concern is its high cost. As a compromise, the government has decided to electrify 50% of the railways, convert 30% to diesel, and allow the remaining 20% of these railways — focusing on the least utilized lines — to remain coal-based.

The government has widely defended the measure based on the fact that it will lead to job creation, improved transportation services for both passengers and cargo, and it will likely reduce the price of goods both being imported and exported out of the country, leading to more profitable ventures.

The government has justified that the coal-based railways are those that are either in isolated regions, their limited use to overall cargo and passenger use, and to save costs by focusing on the main railways.

The budget for this program will be of US$120 million to be paid yearly to the Ministry of Infrastructure for this program. It shall function from 1950 to 1955 and the government is hopeful that it shall be completed on time. The Ministry of Infrastructure has decided to focus on a 3 kV DC overhead power supply.

All of these programs will be managed by the Ministry of Infrastructure in combination with an avid participation by the National Railway Company of Belgium and the Ministry of Labor under Aimée Bologne-Lemaire. Aimée has already focused on establishing labor groups for the manual labor required. These labor groups will be inspired by the WPA and will consist of a good way for unemployed Belgian men and women to obtain a minimum wage with manual labor.

A minor addendum to the INE/NEI will be a track overhaul program with a budget of US$25 million.

Miscellaneous

As an addendum to the overall program, the Belgian government will contact both the Ateliers de construction de La Meuse and the John Cockerill Group, seeking to obtain new train models for these electrified railways. They will be granted ten-year contracts if they present improved models from the ones that currently exist in the market.

SUMMARY

• The Belgian government is investing US$120 million per year from 1950 to 1955 to electrify 50% of all railways in the country, converting 30% of the railways to diesel, and allowing around 20% of the railway to remain coal-based. This project is likely to be revisited in 1955.

• The Belgian government is also contacting domestic manufacturers of locomotives to encourage them to provide new locomotive models that are competitive with the international market.