Brussels Mobility is renovating the Diamant pre-metro station in the municipality of Schaerbeek. The station's importance and passenger numbers are expected to increase, requiring improved infrastructure.
The pre-metro station has been in operation since 1972 and is serviced by tram and pre-metro lines 7 and 25. It is located next to the business park housing Belgium's public broadcasters (VRT and RTBF). Following the development of Mediapark – a residential area with some 1,400 homes – a significant increase in passenger numbers is expected.
It is therefore the next focus of Brussels Mobility's Refresh programme, which aims to accelerate the renovation of metro stations. "Instead of waiting for a total renovation, various refreshment works will be carried out in one station in a coordinated manner," a spokesperson for the region's mobility service, Inge Paemen, explained.
This involves renewing technical equipment (such as escalators, lighting, cameras, speakers, entrance gates), improving accessibility and adding a more attractive decorative finish. "By grouping the works together, the renovation will be carried out more quickly and cheaply, and passengers will experience less disruption."
What to expect
Work started on Monday 13 January with the removal of the first escalator. Throughout the renovation, Brussels Mobility will replace all four escalators.
Additional access gates for passengers will also be installed to ensure a smooth flow of the increasing number of passengers.
The removal of the escalator in Diamant pre-metro station. Credit: STIB
New wall and floor coverings will be added. These include tactile tiles, a type of floor featuring raised lines, domes, or other textures to help people with vision impairments. The lighting and signalling will be improved, which will increase the sense of security in the station.
The cost of the refurbishment totals €4.1 million, borne entirely by the mobility service. It expects work to be completed by the end of the summer holidays.
Brussels Mobility will also refurbish the Stockel, Ossegem and Étangs Noirs stations later this year.
