The Brussels-Capital Region is laying down the tracks for a new tramway line between Place Rogier and the military hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek, connecting several densely populated neighbourhoods to the city centre.
The region delivered a planning permit to public transport operator STIB to construct a new tram line, which will be given the number 10 and will make several urban functions such as schools, crèches, sports centres, shops and cultural activities more accessible.
“With tram line 10, we are taking another important step towards making Brussels even more accessible," the region's Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt said.
"We will connect Neder-Over-Heembeek to the centre and improve the life quality of locals by linking the tram line construction to the quality redevelopment of several streets and squares in the neighbourhood," she added.
The new line will follow the route of tram 3 between Place Rogier and the Heembeek stop and then continue its way to the military hospital along Rue de Heembeek, Rue François Vekemans, Chemin Vert, Petit Chemin Vert, Rue de Ransbeek, Avenue de Tyras and Rue Bruyn.
Brieuc de Meeûs, CEO of STIB said that the connection between the city centre and the north of the Brussels-Capital Region has been long-awaited. Neighbourhoods serviced by the line are experiencing rapid economic and demographic development.
"The impact study projections show that between 1,600 and 2,400 passengers per hour will travel during peak hours, hence the great importance of this new tram line.”
Wide-reaching project
This tram line construction is part of the region's broader tram plan — which includes the extension of tram line 7 to Albert, among other things. As formulated in Good Move, the Regional Mobility Plan offers citizens "even more freedom to travel throughout the region" and to convince more people to make the modal shift.
However, the project will encompass more than the addition of a new tramway, as the space of about 5km around the route, together accounting for more than 125,000 m2, will be redesigned. This will be done by paying "great attention to pedestrians and cyclists and to high-quality public space."
The final design could take into account a possible redevelopment of Avenue des Croix du Feu and Avenue Van Praet, however, this will be discussed first during a meeting with locals on 20 November.
Related News
- Rainwater will no longer end up in sewers in Brussels
- Good Move: Licence plate cameras to be enforced in Brussels centre
“My experience with trams 8 and 9 shows that you can generate a real ‘tram line effect’ by creating a project that goes beyond a mere mobility solution. We are seizing this opportunity to create a lot of new quality public space," Brussels State Secretary for Urbanism Pascal Smet explained.
The start of road works and the laying of tramway tracks are scheduled for early 2023, and tram line 10 should be operational by autumn 2024, while the works are scheduled to end in 2025.
