The Brussels-Central metro station is set to almost double in size after a full refurbishment will be completed by autumn 2027, the Brussels public transport operator STIB announced on Tuesday.
Following renovations initiated in 2022, the Gare Centrale/Centraal Station metro stop will be expanded with new spaces and enhanced accessibility for people with reduced mobility – via new escalators and a third lift.
Since its inauguration in 1969, the metro station has become one of the busiest in Brussels. It also serves as a critical junction for commuters from Flanders and Wallonia. This growth partially contributes to why renovation is necessary, marking the first comprehensive revamp since its opening.
"Knowing that daily, 50,000 people pass through here, it’s clear this station was due a renovation," said STIB spokesperson Guy Sablon. The refurbishment, managed by STIB, Brussels Mobility and Beliris, aims to make the station larger, brighter, modern and more accessible.
Currently, in its third and penultimate phase of construction, the project involves enlarging the station. A 3,500 square metre extension under Rue Ravenstein is already in place, with a second one being built on Rue Cardinal Mercier.
Renovation works of the Brussels-Central metro station of Brussels public transport company STIB on Tuesday 13 August 2024. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
To achieve this, the project will require significant materials, including 590 tons of steel and 3,500 cubic metres of concrete. "The steel used equates to roughly 36,000 Manneken Pis statues and 30,000 tons of earth have been excavated for the expansion, comparable to two-thirds of the Waterloo Lion monument," according to STIB.
With the station size set to substantially increase, the area will become more comfortable to travel through with better accessibility. The kiosk level will expand from 1,600 to 3,500 square metres, while platform level will extend to 4,300 square metres, up from 2,500.
Access from Rue Montagne du Parc will be replaced with accessible entrances on Rue Ravenstein and Rue Cardinal Mercier, while those on Rue Loxum will stay in place.
This sizeable extension will also enable equipment modernisation and diversify services, including ticket barriers, shops, a sales point, and artwork exhibitions, explains the Brussels transport network.
Bus stop displacement during the works. Credit: STIB
Throughout construction, the metro station will remain open and operational as usual. Only the corridor connecting the STIB station to the SNCB station had to close for a few days due to safety reasons.
The phased approach enables the continuation of traffic on the surface, ensuring bus line connections near the station, with some bus stops have been moved to accommodate the works.
Despite occasional heavy rains causing complications, work has remained on schedule since it began.
The final phase from late 2025 to autumn 2027 will focus on the station’s interior renovation, with the total cost of the renovation is expected to reach €35 million.
