The tram service in Liège will officially start on 28 April, as announced by the Walloon public transport company TEC on its website.
The new T1 tram line connects Sclessin, home to the Standard de Liège stadium, to Coronmeuse and Liège Expo, passing through the city centre and stops like Liège-Guillemins Station, Opéra Square and Saint-Lambert Square, where tram/bus interchange hubs are planned.
These hubs, where trams and bus lines meet, number thirteen in total, with eight major ones at Coronmeuse, Liège Expo, Place Saint-Lambert, Opéra/Rép. Française, Pont d’Avroy, Guillemins, Petit Bourgogne and Standard, and five secondary ones at Droixhe, Pont Maghin, Blonden, Général Leman, and Petit Paradis.
The tram will operate from 05:00 am to 01:00 am, running every 4 minutes and 30 seconds during peak times, and every 7 to 15 minutes during off-peak hours.
This line is part of the first phase of TEC's redevelopment plan, positioning the tram as the backbone of the new Liège transport network, which includes a reorganisation of the bus network to be later enhanced by BUSWAY lines.
The new plan also includes two new park-and-ride (P+R) facilities near Liège Expo and Standard stops, reserved for club members on match days.
Ticket prices remain the same as for the bus, with existing subscriptions and travel passes from the old TEC network valid on the new one. However, tickets cannot be purchased on board.
The introduction of the tram service in Liège had been delayed multiple times. Several crucial technical issues have arisen since trial operations began on 11 February.
The company stated that these issues needed to be resolved to ensure the service operates safely and efficiently. The start date needs to be postponed by a few days to address these technical problems, TEC emphasised.
