Of the 410 trams running on the Brussels network, 117 are still the "old" ones – despite their accessibility and safety problems, according to figures by outgoing Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen).
The iconic design of the older trams, called Presidents' Conference Committee ('PCC'), was first built in the United States in the 1930s. After it proved successful domestically, it was licensed for use elsewhere in the world after the Second World War.
While the 'PCC' concept had high floors and was based on studies made by various American tram (streetcar) systems and builders to provide a modern, fast and comfortable tram, they were quickly replaced by the new low-floor ones. In Brussels, the old trams are still used today on lines 51 and 81, and sometimes also on line 97.
"We have asked for them to be replaced," said Van den Brandt in the Brussels Parliament, adding that these trams "are not accessible to people with reduced mobility and parents with pushchairs."
A tram of Brussels' public transport company MIVB/STIB, Thursday 19 September 2024 in Brussels. Credit: Belga/Eric Lalmand
The main obstacle for Brussels public transport operator STIB is the cost of renovating the fleet. "Modern trams cost several million euros each. We would also have to extend the surface area of the depots to accommodate them," she said.
Van Den Brandt also confirmed that she was awaiting delivery of the 90 modern trams ordered a few years ago by STIB. "This will make it possible to decommission a large number of these old trams."
She admitted that the trams need to be replaced, "but if we take them out of the fleet now [without replacing them with other ones], we will reduce the frequency of trams on our network."
