Inclined plane of Ronquières

The inclined plane of Ronquières is a type of ship lift on the Charleroi-Brussels Canal. It is located in Ronquières.

This inclined plane was completed in 1968 after six years of construction. The plane is 1400 meters long and overcomes a height difference of 68 meters (an incline of nearly 5%). The ship tanks move like trains on rails. They are propelled by cables. Each tank has its own counterweight, which travels on rails beneath the tank. This allows the tanks to operate independently of each other. This is important for maintenance and in case of malfunctions. The plane continues to operate, albeit with limited capacity.

The plane provides its own energy supply. Next to the incline, there is a pipe through which water flows to drive a turbine that supplies the electrical energy for the structure.

(source: wikipedia)

Sarah De Keyzer