With the inauguration of new lifts in Madou and Jacques Brel metro stations, a number of public transport projects to improve accessibility in the Brussels-Capital Region are ending this month.
Thanks to the commissioning of lifts at the Madou and Jacques Brel stations, 55 of 69 of Brussels' (pre)metro stations are now fully equipped with lifts to provide seamless, level access from street level to the platforms.
"Making our entire STIB network perfectly accessible to all users is a priority for us. That is why we continue to work hard to transform all our metro and pre-metro stations," said Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt in a press release.
"After Anneessens and Porte de Hal in November last year, Madou and Jacques Brel are now also accessible to people with reduced mobility and visibility," she added. "This also benefits all other users, especially parents with prams or senior citizens. Currently, 55 stations are already accessible and we are currently continuing work on four ongoing projects."
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Credit: Brussels Mobility
Credit: Brussels Mobility
Concretely, two lifts were installed in the Madou metro station: one connects the platform towards Arts-Loi with the mezzanine level, and the other connects the platform towards Botanique with the mezzanine and street levels.
Due to the lack of space, some space for the latter lift had to be acquired in the European Commission car park. Work will continue with the installation of access gates and tactile paving (blind guide tiles), which will continue until mid-2024 and cost €2.6 million.
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In the Jacques Brel metro station, three lifts were installed as well: the first connects the upper floor (street level) with the ticket office (level -1), and is located close to the escalator and stairs that provide access to the station at the corner of Rue de Glasgow and Boulevard Jules Graindor.
The other two lifts connect the ticket office to the platforms, one in each direction (level -2). There, too, tactile paving is currently being installed. The total cost amounts to about €2.1 million.
Most of the network has now been fitted with lifts but the programme to make (pre)metro stations accessible continues. For the last, most complex stations, work is underway (for Albert, Horta, Parc and Simonis) or studies are being carried out. Additionally, a building permit was obtained for Hôtel des Monnaies and applied for Boileau and Ribaucourt.
