Brussels Trams Planned ExtensionsBrussels Trams Planned ExtensionsNorth of Brussels In the 21st-century political climate, investment in light rail has again taken off, and a number of extensions to the system are at various stages of fruition. Lines 3, 7 and 9 are to be connected at Heysel/Heizel, and on 20 December 2018, Brussels Mobility Minister Pascal Smet announced that the next two lines to be built, estimated to open in 2024, will run from Rogier to Belgica via Brussels-North and Tour et Taxis/Thurn en Taxis (seat of the Flemish Regional Government), as well as from Rogier to Hôpital Militaire/Militaire Ziekenhuis in Neder-Over-Heembeek via Van Praet (line 10). The Flemish Region, under its Brabantnet plan, intends to build a new line to the north of the city, from Heysel/Heizel to Willebroek alongside the A12 road. Its success will require integration with the existing Brussels regional system, for instance the line will have to be built at standard rather than metre gauge (as the other Flemish trams are). Three other suburban/interurban lines had been proposed: from Brussels westwards to Ninove, from Brussels north-eastwards to Heist-op-den-Berg, and from Heysel/Heizel via Vilvoorde to Brussels Airport. The first two proposals were withdrawn, while the last has been implemented in 2020 as a 'tram-bus'. The Ringtrambus (route 820) from Brussels Airport to Jette opened on 28 June 2020, operated by 14 24-metre double-articulated buses. The initial half-hourly frequency was doubled to quarter-hourly on 1 September 2020. South and Central Brussels Other proposals have been aborted. During 2014 and 2015, STIB/MIVB promoted a project to 'tramify' the Porte de Namur/Naamsepoort–Delta section of the overloaded 71 bus route, which carries over 12,000 passengers per day in each direction. The Brussels Region supported the proposal, but the municipality of Ixelles was against, supported by traders on the Chaussée d'Ixelles/Elsensesteenweg who feared the disruption the tracklaying would cause. The proposal was dropped and instead the section from the Chaussée de Wavre/Waversesteenweg to the Place Fernand Coq/Fernand Coqplein has been made largely car-free. Other outline proposals have been made to extend the 62 to Brussels Airport (with the infrastructure being paid for by the Flemish Region), divert the 92 from the Rue Royale/Koningsstraat to serve Brussels Central Station, as well as to rebuild the east–west link through the city centre from Bourse/Beurs to the Place Royale/Koningsplein. On 18 July 2019, the Brussels Government, in its programme for the period 2019–2024, committed itself to set the following additional developments in train: conversion of bus route 95 from the Central Station to the university area (partially making up for the failed conversion of route 71), extension of route 25 eastwards to serve the Mediapark, extension of route 7 westwards to Forest (this may include a tunnel under Forest/Vorst Park from Albert, where lines 4, 7 and 51 will terminate when the heavy metro is extended to Albert) and conversion of route 49 to form a western ring line, as well as extension of route 8 northwards to Evere and eastwards to Jezus-Eik. Brussels Trams Tram 95 On 8 November 2022, it was reported to the regional Mobility Committee that STIB/MIVB has launched a feasibility study on the 'tramification' of bus 95, to report in 2023. The 95 is Brussels' busiest bus route, on a par with the 71 at 7.25m passengers a year. Between Trône/Troon and Etterbeek Station, it is saturated at 1,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The best option would be to connect it to the planned tram from the Central Station to Tour & Taxis, but this poses the question of how to route it through the city centre. As for the southern terminus, it might be truncated to the ULB or Delta. Brussels Trams Plans 13 New Projects by 2035 On 28 March 2023 the Brussels regional government announced a new "Tram Plan" to build 13 new lines totalling 40 km in length by 2035. STIB/MIVB published more detail on 5 May 2023. The 13 major projects are:
Brussels Trams Locale: Brussels, Belgium Brussels Trams Routes: 18 (2019) Brussels Trams Owner(s): Brussels-Capital Region Brussels Trams Operator(s): STIB/MIVB Brussels Trams Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Brussels Trams Propulsion System(s): Electricity Brussels Trams Electrification: 750 V DC overhead lines Brussels Trams Depot(s): 7 Brussels Trams Stock: 397 Brussels Trams Track Length (total): 140.6 km Brussels Trams Route Length:141.1 km (87.7 mi) Brussels Trams Revenue: 2017: 149.1 million Brussels Trams Horsecar Era: 1869–ca. 1900 Brussels Trams Status: Converted to electricity Brussels Trams Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Brussels Trams Propulsion System(s): Horses Brussels Trams Steam Tram Era: 1876–1877, 1879 Brussels Trams Status: Experiments abandoned Brussels Trams Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Brussels Trams Propulsion System(s): Steam Brussels Trams Accumulator Tram Era: 1883, 1886–1889 Brussels Trams Status: Experiments abandoned Brussels Trams Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Brussels Trams Propulsion System(s): Rechargeable batteries Brussels Trams Electric Tram Era: since 1894 Brussels Trams Status: Still Running Brussels Trams Owner(s): Brussels-Capital Region Brussels Trams Operator(s): STIB/MIVB (since 1954) | |||||
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