Line 3 is a planned expansion of the Brussels Metro, running from Albert, through the existing premetro (underground tram) tunnel, and eventually terminating at Bordet. As of July 2023 [update] , it is under construction. [1]
Line 3 is a planned expansion of the Brussels Metro, running from Albert, through the existing premetro (underground tram) tunnel, and eventually terminating at Bordet. As of July 2023 [update] , it is under construction. [1]
A very similar metro line was planned in 1969, but this project did not go ahead.
In 2009, STIB/MIVB's director-general Alain Flausch announced plans to develop north–south metro lines, because it was increasingly difficult to improve surface transport in dense suburbs, and said a line to Bordet had political consensus. [2] In 2010, Beliris commissioned a study into the route, with approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) and 7 stations. [3] The plan was approved in 2013, with construction scheduled to start in 2018 and the first metros running in 2022. [4]
Beliris is responsible for building the northern part of the route, and STIB is building the rest. In June 2023, Beliris asked for help from the Belgian Government, following a series of delays and cost overruns. [5] As of December 2022 [update] , construction was expected to be complete in 2032.
The southern section of the line reuses existing premetro infrastructure, from Albert to Gare du Nord/Noordstation. This is expected to open in 2024. North of there, new track is being built, as far as Bordet; this is expected to be complete in 2030.
The new metro will not use the current Lemonnier station. Instead, a new station, Toots Thielemans, will be built between Gare du Midi/Zuidstation and Anneessens. [6] Lemonnier would be rebuilt to allow tram connections, but there have been tunneling difficulties under the Midi Palace, and long delays. [7]
Several other changes are needed on the premetro route. Electrification is changing 600V overhead line to 930V DC third-rail, and platforms designed for trams are changing to accommodate the new rolling stock.
Some tram routes will be reconfigured, working around the new metro services. Albert will become multimodal, with tram routes 2 and 3 terminating there. [8]
The new metro stations in the northern section are:
In 2012, plans were announced to build a further line to the south, as far as Uccle; at the time, it was expected to open in 2025. [9]
The metro line will use M7 trains, built by CAF.
The Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of four conventional metro lines and three premetro lines. The metro-grade lines are M1, M2, M5, and M6 with some shared sections, covering a total of 39.9 kilometres (24.8 mi), with 59 metro-only stations. The premetro network consists of three tram lines that partly travel over underground sections that were intended to be eventually converted into metro lines. Underground stations in the premetro network use the same design as metro stations. A few short underground tramway sections exist, so there is a total of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi) of underground metro and tram network. There are a total of 69 metro and premetro stations as of 2011.
The North–South connection is a railway link of national and international importance through central Brussels, Belgium, that connects the major railway stations in the city. It is line 0 (zero) of the Belgian rail network. With 1200 trains a day, it is the busiest railway line in Belgium and the busiest railway tunnel in the world. It has six tracks and is used for passenger trains, or rarely for a maintenance train when work is to be done on the railway infrastructure inside the North–South connection itself, but not for freight trains. It is partially underground and partially raised above street level.
The Brussels tramway network is a tram system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It is the 16th largest tram system in the world by route length, in 2017 providing 149.1 million journeys over routes 140.6 km (87.4 mi) in length. In 2018, it consisted of 18 tram lines. Brussels trams are operated by STIB/MIVB, the local public transport company.
Brussels-Central railway station is a railway and metro station in central Brussels, Belgium. It is the second busiest railway station in Belgium and one of three principal railway stations in Brussels, together with Brussels-South and Brussels-North. First completed in 1952 after protracted delays caused by economic difficulties and World War II, it is the newest of Brussels' main rail hubs.
Brussels-Schuman railway station is a railway station in the City of Brussels, Belgium, serving the European Quarter. It received its name from the area around the Robert Schuman Roundabout, itself named after Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union.
A premetro is a tramway or light railway which includes segments built to rapid transit standards, generally as part of a process of conversion to a metro-standards railway usually by the construction of tunnels in the central city area.
The premetro and tram route 3, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects connects the Esplanade stop with the Churchill stop in the southern municipality of Uccle. The line is named after the planned Metro line 3, which is set to service most of the current route of tram line 3. The line was temporarily disbanded, but returned in service on 30 June 2008. The colour of the signage for this line is lime-green.
Tram route 81 in Brussels, Belgium, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects the Marius Renard stop in the municipality of Anderlecht with the multimodal Montgomery metro station in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. The route also crosses the municipalities of Saint-Gilles, Ixelles, the City of Brussels and Etterbeek. It connects with the Metro at Saint-Guidon/Sint Guido, Brussels-South, Merode and Montgomery. The route also crosses the major tram routes 3 and 4 at Horta. A good deal of its length is in carriageway, while long sections at either end are in reservation. It has a short section in tunnel at Brussels-South.
The premetro and tram route 4 in Brussels, Belgium, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects the Stalle Parking stop in the southern municipality of Uccle to Brussels-North railway station in the municipality of Schaerbeek. It was created on 2 July 2007 as a new route between Esplanade and Stalle Parking. On 31 August 2009, the route was shortened with a new terminus at Brussels-North, while line 3 was expanded between Brussels-North and Esplanade. The colour of the signage for this line is pink.
The tram route 24 in Brussels, Belgium was a tram route operated by the STIB/MIVB, which connected the Schaerbeek railway station to the Vanderkindere stop in the municipality of Uccle. The route ran only on weekdays until 8:00 pm.
The tram route 51 in Brussels, Belgium, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects Heysel/Heizel metro station in the City of Brussels to the Van Haelen stop in the municipality of Uccle. The route runs north–south, crossing the City of Brussels, Jette, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, the City of Brussels again, Saint-Gilles, Forest and Uccle. Currently, service is interrupted between Brussels-South railway station and Altitude Cent/Hoogte Honderd due to construction work at Albert premetro station.
The tram route 82 in Brussels, Belgium, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects Berchem-Sainte-Agathe railway station in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe to Drogenbos Castle in the Flemish municipality of Drogenbos. After 8 p.m., the route terminates at Brussels-South railway station, with connections to Drogenbos provided by tram route 32.
Albert premetro station is a premetro station located on the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest in Brussels, Belgium. The station is at the crossroad between the Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the Greater Ring and the Chaussée d'Alsemberg/Alsembergsesteenweg between Forest Park and Saint-Gilles prison. The station is the last stop south of the North–South Axis, a tram tunnel crossing the city centre from Albert to Brussels-North railway station. It is on tram routes 3 and 4 and evening route 33. There is a connection at ground level with tram route 51, as well as bus routes 48 and 54.
Anneessens premetro station is a premetro station in central Brussels, Belgium, located under the Place Anneessens/Anneessensplein, along the Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier/Maurice Lemonnierlaan. It is part of the North–South Axis, a tram tunnel crossing the city centre between Brussels-North railway station and Albert premetro station. Tram routes 3 and 4, as well as evening routes 31, 32 and 33 stop at this station.
The North–South Axis is a tram tunnel in Brussels, Belgium, which crosses the city centre from North to South between Brussels-North railway station and Albert premetro station.
Lemonnier premetro station is a premetro station in central Brussels, Belgium, located near the crossroads between the Boulevard Maurice Lemonnier/Maurice Lemonnierlaan and the Small Ring.
Horta premetro station is a premetro station located in the Saint-Gilles municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. It was opened on 3 December 1993.
The premetro and tram route 7 in Brussels, Belgium, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects the Vanderkindere stop in the southern municipality of Uccle with the Heizel/Heysel stop in Laeken in the City of Brussels, where connecting services of tram route 51, Metro line 6, as well as bus routes 84 and 88 depart. The colour of the signage for this line is bright yellow.
Liedts is a planned Brussels Metro station, on line 3, between Gare du Nord/Noordstation and Colignon. Its entrance will be on the Place Liedts/Liedtsplein.
Paix (French) or Vrede (Dutch) is a planned Brussels Metro station on line 3, between Tilleul/Linde and Bordet.
