The new Tram 10 line between Neder-Over-Heembeek on the northern edge of the Brussels-Capital Region and the city center is set to come into service on 23 September, STIB has confirmed.
The line, which was constructed in "record time" according to the Brussels public transport operator, will run from Military Hospital to the centre of Brussels, and has also been extended out to Churchill in Uccle.
Along the new route, stops include Brussels-North Station, Rogier, De Brouckère, Brussels-Midi Station and Albert, and the tram will connect with other bus lines (47, 53, 56, etc.), tram lines (4, 7, 18, 51, etc.), the metro (lines 1-5 and 2-6) and the train (North and Midi Station).
Tram 10 line. Credit: STIB
The line will also have ten new stops, including two named after women: Simone Veil and Marguerite Yourcenar.
Within Neder-Over-Heembeek, tram 10 will run through Heembeekstraat, François Vekemansstraat, Groenweg, past the Nelson Mandela stadium, Ransbeekstraat, Tyraslaan and Bruynstraat.
Brieuc de Meeûs, CEO of STIB, said the new line will "provide a better connection between Neder-Over-Heembeek and the city center".
He added that an accompanying revision of the wider transport network in the north east of the city will provide new connections "that take into account customer needs, operating constraints and the possibilities to increase capacity and frequency for the benefit of as many people as possible."
Changes to other bus and tram lines
As Tram 10 comes into service in September, there will be a number of changes to the tram and bus network in the surrounding area.
From 23 September, line 3 which runs between Esplanade and Churchill will merge with line 10 between Heembeek and Churchill. The part of line 3 between Esplanade and Heembeek which is not taken over by line 10 will be covered by a new line 35, connecting Esplanade with Weldoeners.
This will result in the frequency of this line, often overcrowded during rush hour between Van Praet and Meiser stops, doubling from 10 to 20 trams per hour and increasing capacity by 70%.
By constructing a temporary terminus at Weldoenersplein, tram line 25 which runs between Boondaal Station and Rogier will continue to run as normal.
In the long term, on the route to Bordet a new tram 11 will be constructed to connect Rogier with Eurocontrol via the North Station. This new line will run alongside tram 62 on Leopold III Avenue.
The launch of the Tram 10 line in September will also lead to changes in bus services.
Bus lines 47 (Heembeek - Vilvoorde Station) and 57 (North Station - Military Hospital) will be merged into a new line 47. The new line 47 will connect Heembeek with Vilvoorde station and take over the route of the current line 57 in Neder-Over-Heembeek, which serves the industrial estates and the canal zone.
The center of Neder-Over-Heembeek will be served by the new line 10, which also takes over part of the 57 bus between Neder-Over-Heembeek and North Station.
Earlier, in July of this year, tram lines 9 and 19 will be adapted, with the northern parts of both lines being swapped.
Line 9 which currently runs between Simonis and Koning Boudewijn will run between Groot-Bijgaarden and Koning Baudouin, while line 19 which currently runs between Groot-Bijgaarden and De Wand and will now run between Simonis and De Wand.
This realignment will improve the frequency of trams between Simonis and UZ Brussels, and provide greater regularity between Simonis and Groot-Bijgaarden.
Also from the beginning of July, tram line 62 which currently runs between Eurocontrol and the Jette Cemetery will be extended to Heysel. This means that travellers will be able to enjoy two tram lines from Heysel (lines 7 and 62).
Growing Neder-Over-Heembeek community
The new Tram 10 line is opening in response to major growth of services, infrastructure, companies and residents in the Neder-Over-Heembeek area. According to forecasts, the area will have 24% more inhabitants, 32% more students and 36% more jobs between 2018 and 2035.
The public transport operator has said it will be communicating the changes to the north eastern city transport network across its website, social media, newsletter, app, through flyers and in voice messages and on screens in stations and vehicles.
STIB staff will also be present for several days on the network to answer questions from travellers and propose alternative routes if necessary.
