TheBelgian State Railways (Dutch:Belgische Staatsspoorwegen[ˈbɛlɣisəˈstaːtspoːrˌʋeːɣə(n)];French:Chemins de fer de l'État Belge[ʃəmɛ̃dəfɛʁdəletabɛlʒ]) was the original state-owned railway ofBelgium. Established by an organic law of 1 May 1834, it began construction of its first line, betweenBrussels andMechelen on 1 June 1834.[1] This line, which was opened on 5 May 1835, was also the first steam-powered public railway in continental Europe.[2]
On 1 September 1926, the assets and operations of the Belgian State Railways were transferred to its successor, the then newly createdNational Railway Company of Belgium (Dutch:Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen; French:Société nationale des chemins de fer belges (NMBS/SNCB)), as part of a scheme formulated to eliminate Belgium's then excessive floating debt. Under the scheme, it was intended that Treasury bonds would not be repaid when they fell due; instead, they would be converted into bonds or shares issued by the NMBS/SNCB, or into fresh Treasury bonds, with the holders having the right to take either.[3][4]
