How did the rebuilding of Antwerp Central Station make high-speed rail travel possible?

The original design of Antwerp Central Station functioned as a dead-end terminal, which required all trains to reverse direction upon arrival. This configuration was a significant limitation for modern rail efficiency.1

To accommodate high-speed rail services between major European cities like Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, the station underwent an ambitious rebuilding project starting in 1998. This transformation involved the construction of tunnels that allow trains to travel directly across the city rather than terminating at the station. Following a comprehensive restoration between 1993 and 2005, the station was expanded to include three levels and 14 platforms, successfully integrating the historic terminal into a modern, through-running high-speed network.1