Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Sambre, in the south-west of Belgium, not far from the border with France. By 1 January 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of 1,462 square kilometres (564 sq mi) with a total population of 522,522 by 1 January 2008, ranking it as the 5th most populous in Belgium after Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Ghent. The inhabitants are called Carolorégiens or simply Carolos.
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 National Company of Light Railways was a state-owned transportation provider which comprised a system of narrow-gauge tramways or local railways in Belgium, which covered the whole country, including the countryside, and had a greater route length than the mainline railway system. They were 1,000 mmmetre gauge and included electrified city lines and rural lines using steam locomotives and diesel railcars; half the system was electrified.
Brussels-South railway station is a major railway station in Brussels, Belgium. Geographically, it is located in Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis on the border with the adjacent municipality of Anderlecht and just south of the City of Brussels.
The Métro Léger de Charleroi is a 33-kilometre (21 mi) light rail network in Belgium. The system consists of a loop line around central Charleroi and three branches towards the suburbs of Gilly, Anderlues and Gosselies. Another branch to Châtelet was partially built, never entered service, but will finally do so in 2026.
Brussels-West Station is a multimodal transport hub located in the municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, in the western part of Brussels, Belgium. The station opened on 6 October 1982 as part of the Beekkant–Saint Guidon/Sint-Guido extension of former east–west line 1B. Then, following the reorganisation of the Brussels Metro on 4 April 2009, it is served by lines 1, 2, 5 and 6.
Brussels has an extensive network of both private or public transportation means. Public transportation includes Brussels buses, trams, and metro, as well as a set of railway lines and railway stations served by public trains. Air transport is available via one of the city's two airports, and boat transport is available via the Port of Brussels. Bicycle-sharing and car-sharing public systems are also available. The city is relatively car-dependent by northern European standards and is considered to be the most congested city in the world according to the INRIX traffic survey.
Charleroi-Central railway station is the main railway station serving Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS). It was formerly called Charleroi-South railway station until December 2022.
Villette is a Charleroi Metro station, located at the southwestern end of Charleroi downtown, in fare zone 1. It was the first metro station in Belgium to be built on a viaduct, spanning over the river Sambre. The station is accessible from both banks of the river and features a central platform serving two tram tracks. Villette station is particularly close to the Sud station.
Charleroi-West railway station is a secondary railway station serving Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium. It is one of two railway stations located in downtown Charleroi, the other one being the much larger Charleroi-Central railway station. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS).
Providence is a Charleroi Metro station, build on a viaduct and located in Marchienne-au-Pont, Belgium, in fare zone 1. The station has only one entrance, equipped with escalators and stairs.
Waterloo is a Charleroi Metro station, located at the northern end of Charleroi downtown, in fare zone 1.
Gazomètre is a Charleroi Metro station, located in Gilly, in fare zone 2. Gazomètre is an underground station featuring a central platform, with street access at the eastern end only.
Gilly is a Charleroi Metro station, located in Gilly, in fare zone 2. Gilly is an underground station featuring a central platform
The Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Charleroi, abbreviated and referred to as STIC, was a company operating a local and regional public transport network in Charleroi, Belgium. The company was active from 1962 until 1991, when it was merged with the Charleroi part of the SNCV to form the TEC Charleroi, the current public transport company in Charleroi.
Soleilmont is a Charleroi Metro station located in Gilly, Belgium, opened on 27 February 2012 as part of the Soleilmont extension of the Gilly branch of the Charleroi Metro. The station, built at ground level, is the terminus of the Gilly branch and is an intermodal transport hub served by trams and buses and featuring a 200 spaces car park.
Marabout is a Charleroi Metro station located in Gilly, Belgium, opened on 27 February 2012 as part of the Soleilmont extension of the Gilly branch of the Charleroi Pre-metro. The station is entirely underground and features a central platform with street access at its western end. Decoration inside the station depicts old views of Charleroi.
Line 4 is a line of the Charleroi Metro in Belgium operated by TEC Charleroi, running from Soleimont in Gilly to the loop around downtown Charleroi, before heading back to Soleilmont.
Line M3 is a line of the Charleroi Metro in Belgium operated by TEC Charleroi, running from Gosselies to the loop around downtown Charleroi, before heading back to Gosselies.
