Belgium‘s national railway operator NMBS / SNCB is preparing to permanently withdraw its nearly 50-year-old I6 coaches from service, bringing an end to a fleet that has been running since 1977. I6 coaches were (are) laid out in a corridor + compartments set-up. A cosy and romantic design philosophy which is nowadays very rare.
The retirement is expected around the end of October, according Mobilithib by Thibault Lapers, with the information confirmed by NMBS / SNCB. A possible farewell journey is reportedly being prepared, potentially on a route mainly in Wallonia.
Built by La Brugeoise et Nivelles (BN) between 1977 and 1978, the I6 fleet originally consisted of 20 first-class coaches and 60 second-class coaches. They formed part of the Eurofima standard coach family ordered by several European railways. The coaches are 26.4 metres long and most have a maximum speed of 160 km/h, while eight were designed for 200 km/h.
In 1989, 15 second-class I6 coaches were converted at the Mechelen (Malines) workshop into couchette coaches, each with 60 berths. These were used on international night trains, including the Treski services between Brussels and Austria.
The I6 coaches have had a remarkably varied career. Since 1987 they have been used alongside I10 coaches, while I6 and I10 sets were also occasionally deployed on the Benelux service between Brussels and Amsterdam. Six I6 coaches were leased to Hamburg-Köln-Express in 2013 for services between Hamburg and Cologne.
They also became a familiar sight on trains to Luxembourg. In 2018, a trip from Antwerp to Arlon (Aarlen) and Luxembourg used an I6-I10-I11 formation on the Brussels–Luxembourg section. The modernised I6m coaches featured refurbished interiors with moveable headrests, power outlets and seats that could be adjusted into a bed.
The I6 even had a royal assignment. On 15 October 2019, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde travelled by a special NMBS / SNCB train from Brussels-Luxembourg station to the Grand Duchy for a state visit. The five-coach first-class train included I6, I6M and I11 coaches and carried around 100 passengers. The coaches remained standard railway stock, but Belgian royal-coat-of-arms stickers were placed on their windows for the occasion.
Replaced by M7 coaches
The withdrawal is part of NMBS / SNCB’s ongoing fleet renewal, particularly the introduction of 751 M7 double-deck coaches built by Alstom. Some 655 had been delivered by the end of 2025, and the operator expects the final vehicles to arrive by the end of 2026.
The I6 coaches disappeared from the regular timetable in June 2026 but have continued to appear occasionally on peak-hour P trains between Ostend and Schaarbeek / Schaerbeek.
NMBS / SNCB spokesperson Vincent Bayer said the withdrawal formed part of the operator’s continuous fleet renewal. He added that the railway company would communicate about a possible farewell journey if and when one is organised.
The future of the remaining I6 coaches is uncertain. NMBS / SNCB put 23 of them up for sale during the first half of 2026, comprising 20 second-class and three first-class coaches.
The I6 retirement follows the withdrawal of several other older vehicle types, including the AM66 Classic multiple units in December 2024, NS ICR coaches in April 2025, Class 21 and 27 locomotives in December 2025 and the M4 coaches in January 2026.
The I6 fleet had already been reduced to just four coaches in standard use by December 2025, all of them 200 km/h variants. A modernisation programme launched in 2017 had targeted 42 I6 coaches for refurbishment, with intended use on services to Luxembourg and Amsterdam. The couchette coaches were excluded from the programme and offered for sale.
NMBS / SNCB & Infrabel related news
- BELGIUM | 15 million passengers took the train this summer.
- Antwerp now linked to Cologne in Germany with direct Deutsche Bahn ICE via Brussels Airport – Zaventem.
- 100 YEARS OF NMBS / SNCB | Centenary train visits Schaerbeek (29–30 August), Liège (12–13 September) and Antwerp (10–11 October).
- BELGIUM | Council of Ministers approves roadmap to open rail market to competition after 2032.
- NMBS / SNCB turns 100 on 23 July and holds nationwide celebrations in the coming months.
- NMBS / SNCB advisory committee explicitly opposes station access gates, while people on the ground express more enthusiasm.
- Brussels to Coast trains to include uniformed and plain-clothed police.
- NMBS / SNCB: International train travel continues to grow in popularity with Belgian holidaymakers.
- NMBS / SNCB expands summer train services to coast, tourist attractions and festivals.
- NMBS / SNCB: Ticket checks possible on the platform before embarking the train, no on-board sales from 1 July 2026.
- TGV inOui Brussels – Strasbourg – Basel from July 2027.
- NMBS / SNCB to expand train services by 3% under new 2026–2029 transport plan.
- ANTWERP-LINKEROEVER | Average of 530 people take the train at Linkeroever on weekdays.
- NMBS / SNCB: Train travel gains popularity as fuel prices rise.
- NMBS / SNCB ends mandatory gender registration for online ticket purchases.
- NMBS / SNCB presents new rainbow-clad Siemens Desiro for Pride and IDAHOT.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station reopens as temporary hub during premetro tunnel works.
- PHOTOS | Presenting Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station anno 2026.
- NMBS / SNCB introduces boarding zones on platforms to further improve passenger experience.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel to upgrade Antwerp-Berchem and add second track between Mol and Neerpelt, amongst other economy-boosting projects.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station (re)opens on Saturday 2 May.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel launches Brussels pilot to curb dangerous track trespassing.
- BELGIUM | Train operator NMBS / SNCB to end on-board ticket sales from 1 July 2026.
- BELGIUM | Access gates to be introduced in major railway stations, reversing earlier opposition.
- Rise of international trains puts pressure on the Belgian rail network: domestic services must not disappear.
- ANTWERP | Renovation of Linkeroever station to begin during spring half-term, rail services temporarily disrupted.
- Belgian Mobility Minister wants to revive direct train service to Switzerland.
- NMBS / SNCB & CAF for MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units signed.
- 2026 | Bpost marks 100 years of NMBS / SNCB with a stamp.
- Reorganising train travel in Belgium by 2050: going for the Swiss or the Dutch model?.
- BELGIUM | More than 9.5 million travellers took the train the summer of 2025.
- Hamont – Weert on foot, because the train connection still isn’t there.
- REVIEW | ‘Belgian Railways Under Occupation: Between Collaboration and Resistance’ at Train World in Brussels.
- NMBS / SNCB to apologize for involvement in WWII deportation transports.
- Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station up for major revamp.
- PHOTOS | AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ / ‘Classique’ Farewell Ride at Antwerp-Central Railway Station.
- Farewell to Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg.
