Brussels Trams Track MaintenanceBrussels Trams Track MaintenanceTracks are renewed periodically, both when they wear out, and also to increase the lateral clearance between them, to enable the safe passage of wider trams. Minor imperfections are smoothed by in-situ welding. When a temporary diversion is required, STIB/MIVB often installs a set of temporary or 'Californian' points which sits on top of the permanent rails. Tracks have historically been embedded in stone setts, with STIB/MIVB taking responsibility for the road up to 30 cm (12 in) on either side of the rails. However, recently, tarmac has been used, which improves conditions for cyclists. In recent years, when major junctions have been relaid, the opportunuity has been taken to increase stability by installing a concrete raft underneath the whole junction. Brussels Trams Signalling On the overground parts of the network, trams drive at sight, while the underground premetro sections have block signalling. However, drivers do not need to check in and out of the signalled section as on the Muni system in San Francisco. An exception is in the earliest tunnel to be built, at the Lemonnier stop, where passengers cross the tracks using an underground level crossing. This station will be bypassed when the line is converted to heavy metro and the new Toots Thielemans station built slightly to its east. Brussels Trams Vehicles Brussels Trams Fleet As of 18 September 2017, the fleet consists of 396 trams, of the following types:
Brussels Trams High-Floor and Low-Floor The development of the system is being pulled in two contradictory directions – towards low-floor street-running trams and high-floor underground railway. This has led to some conflicting decisions. The standard trams—still "PCC's from the 1950s and 60s—have been followed by the specially designed "T2000" low-floor model and, at the end of 2005, by a variant of the off-the-shelf "Flexity Outlook" from Bombardier (3000 series), and, at the end of 2006, by an even longer version of the same family (4000 series). On some of the busiest routes, the convenience of the low floor is lost because of the anomalies caused by the hesitant upgrade of tram to metro. The city has four heavy metro lines and three stretches of premetro or underground tram. The premetro tunnels have been built to allow for eventual upgrade to heavy metro, so most of the platform is high, and is connected to the street (at least in the upward direction) by escalator. At some stations lifts have been installed, but there is a cutout section taking the level down to one foot above ground to board the trams. The three steps this entails make life difficult for passengers with baby buggies or suitcases, even though the new low-floor trams are accessible to wheel-chair users. To get around this last barrier to mobility, an experimental ramp was installed in 2009 at Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein. Brussels Trams Coupled Sets Coupled sets are not currently used, although since around 2015, tests have been made of pairs of PCCs connected by a towbar. All vehicles still carry a towbar, which is only used nowadays when a broken-down tram needs to be towed or pushed to the depot. Brussels Trams Livery Brussels Trams have known several liveries. In the beginning of the 20th century, those operated by the Tramways Bruxellois were dark green, and those by the Chemins de Fer Economiques were chocolate. The two companies merged in the 1920s, whereupon a standard livery of primrose yellow was adopted which lasted (with some minor changes in the trimmings) until the mid-1990s when a brighter shade of yellow was adopted. A profound change in livery came in 2006 with the adoption of the so-called Art Nouveau livery of silver and light brown on the new 3000 and 4000 vehicles. The rest of the active fleet has been repainted. Trams in Brussels Overview 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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