The Brussels caretaker government has refused to approve the continuation of works at the North Station due to a major cost overrun, according to L’Echo on Saturday.
The construction work aims to create a tunnel under the railway tracks to serve as a turnaround point for Metro Line 3. An unexpected groundwater layer already caused the first problem, generating extra costs.
Initially, the tunnel was expected to cost around €44 million. This has now doubled to approximately €88 million.
This is not the only cost increase on the Albert-North Station section. Initially estimated at around €700 million in 2022, the total project is now projected to cost €1.5 billion.
The regional government finds it “inappropriate” to approve these cost overruns given the budgetary uncertainties.
Public transport company STIB fears a significant delay of 12 to 18 months, while some government members suggest a six-month delay.
