Tram route 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Antwerp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini |
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Stations | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Color on map | black text on pink background | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | tram | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System | Antwerp tram network | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator(s) | De Lijn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | PCC (single), HermeLijn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 8 December 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tram route 8 is a tram route in Antwerp and nearby Wommelgem. The present day route was opened on 8 December 2019 connecting the Astrid premetro station with the Wommelgem Roundabout (Dutch: "Rond punt van Wommelgem") P+R. The route was the first to use the newly opened premetro tunnel under Borgerhout, called the Reuzenpijp, which begins at Astrid station and comes above ground just before the Muggenberg stop. It is promoted as a "fast tram" (sneltram) route, as most stations in the premetro tunnel have not (yet) been opened, allowing a 15-minute connection between the city center and the Wommelgem P+R.
Tram route 8 begins at the Wommelgem Roundabout P+R terminus. From there, it runs westward alongside the E313 to the Ruggeveldlaan. Via the Florent Pauwelslei and Herentalsebaan, the route then joins the older trajectory of tram 24. Past the Muggenberg stop, route 8 enters the recently opened premetro tunnel, while tram 24 uses the older above ground tracks. Underground, tram 8 follows the same trajectory as tram 24 does above ground, but, as most stations on the underground line have not (yet) been opened, it has far fewer stops. The route stops at Zegel station, and then continues on a non-stop trajectory under the Turnhoutsebaan and Carnotstraat towards Astrid station, near Antwerp Centraal station, its end stop. [1]
Originally tram route 8 ran between the Groenplaats in the city centre and the Eksterlaar terminus in Berchem. On 31 December 31, 1978, the part of route 3 between the Groenplaats and Lambermontplaats to the south was transferred to route 8. The tram 8 continued to run on the Eksterlaar-Lambermontplaats trajectory in the following decades, with an exception in 1988, when, due to construction works in the Lange Leemstraat, the route had to use the premetro tunnel to the Groenplaats for several months.
On 3 May 2007, the tram 8 was extended from the Lambermontplaats to the nearby Bolivarplaats, where the new Antwerp courthouse had recently been built. [2] On 15 May 2009, the line was once again extended, this time from the Eksterlaar terminus to the Herentalsebaan, where it joined the trajectory of route 24 to the Silsburg terminus at the Deurne-Wommelgem border. [3] On May 2, 2012, the line was shortened from the Bolivarplaats to the Groenplaats, due to construction works in the Nationalestraat. [4]
On 1 September 2012, tram route 8 was suspended, and its trajectory was added to tram route 4 (formerly Hoboken-Sint-Pietersvliet). However, due to ongoing construction works at the Nationalestraat, it was temporarily impossible to join the trajectory with the original tram route 4, which was also shortened to the Marnixplaats. On February 9, 2013, the two parts of route 4 were connected to each other via a deviation over the Leien. On March 30, 2013, after the works in the Nationalestraat had finished, tram route 4 was able to start service on its definitive trajectory Hoboken-Silsburg. [5] The colors of route 8, black text on an orange background, were transferred with the closing of the route on September 1 to a new tram route 9, running between the Eksterlaar terminus and Linkeroever P+R using the premetro network. [6]
Works on the eastern premetro tunnel under the Carnotstraat and Turnhoutsebaan started in 1977, and were planned to open a few years later. After five years of tunneling and construction works, structural works on the tunnel and stations were largely finished, however, due to austerity measures imposed in the 1980s by the successive Martens governments, and the transfer of authority to the Flemish government after state reforms, construction on the premetro network was put to a halt. Although the extension of the central premetro axis to Linkeroever, and the construction of the northern premetro axis to the Sportpaleis were finished in the 1990s, no initiative was taken to open the eastern premetro axis until recently.
The creation of route 8 and the opening of the eastern "Reuzenpijp" premetro tunnel were a part of the 2020 mobility masterplan as the LIVAN project. [7]
Originally, also another trajectory was considered in which the new route 8 would follow the trajectory of route 24 all the way to the Silsburg terminus, and would then turn north to the Wommelgem P+R either parallel to, or over the R11 road, in the first case going under the E313/E34 highway in a newly constructed tunnel. However, this plan was not adopted, and finally, it was decided to separate route 8 from route 24 near the AZ Monica hospital, after which route 8 would go north over the Ruggeveldlaan, passing under the E313/E34 using the already present bridge over the Ruggveldlaan. The route then turns east and uses a newly built "tram antenna" toward its destination. [8] Also included in the LIVAN project was the construction of further tram tracks at the Ruggeveldlaan. These tracks, connecting the Herentalsebaan and Turnhoutsebaan, are currently only used by route 10 on its temporary detour through Deurne-Zuid. However, plans exist for the creation of a new north-south tram route making use of the tracks, replacing bus route 19. [9] [10]
The previous route 8 was officially opened on 18 April 2015 between the Astrid premetro station and the newly built Wommelgem P+R. [11] From Astrid, the tram rides further towards Antwerp South Station.
A tweet from DeLijn, on 17 October 2019, [12] stated that Tram route would be changing, as part of the Northern Line (Noorderlijn) project in Antwerp City. [13] Part of this would be the removal of all stops after Antwerp's Astrid Premetro Station.
It would no longer serve any connection to Antwerp South Station, and asks that anyone seeking to travel past Astrid Premetro Station, to take Tram 10 from Astrid Premetro Station to the south of Antwerp.
When the premetro entrance at the Frankrijklei will be finished in June 2017, route 8 will be extended to the Antwerp-South railway station via the Opera premetro station and then, after leaving the premetro, following the same trajectory as the above ground route 24. [14] The trams will stop in Opera station at level -3, using new platforms perpendicular the ones now being used by routes 3,5,9 and 15, after it will be opened in September 2018. [15] Earlier plans included a further extension to the Schoonselhof, but this route will now be included into route 10.
In the far future, route 8 could further be extended from Wommelgem to the Q8-highway station Ranst, however, no concrete plans exist up to this date. [16]
Service on the previous route 8, suspended in 2012, was provided mainly by coupled PCC cars and HermeLijn trams.
Service on the present day route 8 is mainly provided by single PCC cars. The premetro tunnel between Astrid and Muggenberg is the first tunnel in the premetro network to receive a new security system, and most HermeLIjn trams are currently not yet equipped with this system. [17] Converted HermeLijn trams can sporadically be seen on the route. The new Albatros Bombardier Flexity 2 trams are also equipped with the system, but are at present not used on route 8.
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.
Berchem is a southern district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Berchem is located along the old Grote Steenweg that has connected Brussels to Antwerp for several centuries; the town borders the districts of Deurne, Borgerhout, Wilrijk and Antwerp and the municipality of Mortsel. Berchem itself consists of three quarters, Oud Berchem, Groenenhoek and Nieuw Kwartier.
The Antwerps Sportpaleis, also called Sportpaleis Antwerpen, Sportpaleis Merksem or simply the Sportpaleis, is an arena in Antwerp, Belgium. It is a multipurpose hall where concerts, sporting events, festivals and fairs are organized. The arena was built for sport, especially track cycling, but there is now little sport there, an exception being the Diamond Games tennis.
The Antwerp Premetro is a network consisting of lines 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 15 of the Antwerp Tram system. It is a metre gauge system which runs underground in the city centre and further out on surface lines, which are mostly separated from motor vehicle traffic. The network is operated by De Lijn.
The Antwerp premetro tram route 3 is a tram route connecting Merksem with Melsele in the city of Antwerp. The route is operated by the Flemish transport company De Lijn and historically also by its Antwerp predecessor, MIVA.
Plantin premetro station is an Antwerp premetro station. Located under the intersection of Simonsstraat with the Plantin en Moretuslei, it is served by lines 2, 6, 9 and 15.
Tram route 5 is a tram route in Antwerp running from Linkeroever to Wijnegem that is operated by the Flemish transport company De Lijn. The modern route was put into service on March 4, 2006, initially connecting Linkeroever with Deurne. The tram route uses the Antwerp pre-metro between the stations Van Eeden and Schijnpoort. On April 14, it was extended from the Wim Saerensplein in Deurne to the Wijnegem Fortveld terminus.
Tram route 6 is a tram route in Antwerp between the Metropolis P+R in the northern Luchtbal suburb and the Olympiade P+R in the southern Kiel neighborhood, using the pre-metro network between stations Sport and Plantin. The route was officially opened on 27 October 2007 and is operated by the Flemish transport company De Lijn.
Zegel is a station on the Antwerp premetro network, opened on 18 April 2015. It lies under the Turnhoutsebaan near the crossing with the Sint-Jansstraat, in the Borgerhout district and is served by tram routes 8 and 10.
Opera is a station in the Antwerp premetro network, lying under the Leien near the Teniersplaats in the city centre. The station was opened on March 25, 1975, at the initial opening of the Antwerp premetro network. The station was temporarily closed in 2016 in order to undergo a full renovation and expansion and reopened in its current form on December 8, 2019. The station lies in the immediate proximity of the Antwerp opera building and is a part of the central east-west premetro axis. It is served by the tram routes 3, 5, 9, 10 and 15.
Astrid is a station in the Antwerp premetro network that was opened on April 1, 1996. The station lies directly under the Koningin Astridplein on the Gemeentestraat side. The station is one of the two premetro stations in Antwerp servicing passengers from Antwerp Central Station, the other being Diamant, which lies to the south of Astrid. It is served by tram lines 8 and 10, who both terminate in this station.
Sport is an underground station in the Antwerp premetro network. The station was opened on April 1, 1996 as the last station on the northern premetro axis. At present, the station is served by tram routes 2, 3 and 6. Tram route 5 also passes through the northern premetro axis, but leaves the premetro tunnel via the Ten Eekhovelei exit between Schijnpoort and Sport. It does not stop at the Sport station, but has a stop called "Sportpaleis" at the Ten Eekhovelei.
Frederik van Eeden is an underground station in the Antwerp premetro network located in the Linkeroever suburb on the left bank of the river Scheldt. The station was opened on 21 September 1990, the same time as the Brabotunnel, linking the station with Groenplaats station and allowing trams in the premetro network to cross the river Scheldt. The station is located directly underneath the F. Van Eedenplein, named after the writer of the same name.
Tram route 9 is a route in the Antwerp tram network connecting the Eksterlaar neighborhood in southern Deurne with Linkeroever using the Antwerp premetro network between Plantin and Van Eeden stations. The present day route was officially opened on September 1, 2012, as part of a revision of the network map.
Schijnpoort is an underground station in the Antwerp premetro network. The station was named after the Schijnpoort gate, part of the Brialmont fortifications, which was demolished in 1970 when constructing the R1 ring road. It was opened in 1996 as part of the northern premetro axis and was originally only served by tram route 3. Currently, it is also serviced by tram route 5, tram route 6 and tram route 2.
Tram route 1 is a tram route in Antwerp (Belgium) connecting the Bolivarplaats in the Zuid neighborhood with the Havana site in the Luchtbal neighborhood to the North via the Leien and Noorderlaan.
Tram route 11 is an above ground tram route in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. It currently runs between the Antwerpen-Berchem railway station and the Melkmarkt in the city centre.
The Franklin Rooseveltplaats is a large square in the city of Antwerp, Belgium, placed at the crossing of the Leien and Turnhoutsebaan, and within walking distance of the Koningin Astridplein and Antwerp-Central station. The square functions primarily as the main bus station in Antwerp, which with its 28 platforms handles a large part of all bus transport in the city, as well as several tram routes.
Tram route 4 is an above ground tram route in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. The route runs between the Kioskplaats in the suburb of Hoboken in the South, and the Silsburg cemetery on the Deurne/Wommelgem border in the East. The present day itinerary is the result of the merger of the trajectory from the historic route 8 and that from the original route 4 in 2012.
Tram Route 10 is a tram route in Antwerp and nearby Wijnegem. Tram route 10 entered operation in 1873, making it one of the oldest tram routes still active in Antwerp, next to Tram Route 4 (Antwerp) and Tram Route 7 (Antwerp).