Flemish public transport firm De Lijn has suspended the operation of its vintage trams following a fire incident last month during a parade in Ghent.
During the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the tram, several of these historic vehicles were in operation. After the parade, one of the trams caught fire leading to one casualty being transported to the hospital.
Following the incident, De Lijn commissioned an external partner to carry out a fire risk assessment. The company has now decided to withdraw its historic trams from service until further notice as a precautionary measure.
Despite having planned tram journeys, including this weekend on the Trammelant line in De Haan, the company regrets that events will now proceed without its vintage trams. However, they emphasise that safety prevails, as mentioned in their statement.
Meanwhile, consultations with heritage preservation associations have begun. De Lijn states that the trams will only be reinstated after necessary technical modifications and adequate safety measures have been put in place.
