PREPARATORY works have begun on the first stage of the project to introduce a new 12km light rail line between the north of Brussels and Zaventem Airport. The line is intended to connect Brussels North station with the airport by the end of 2030, and will offer a journey time of around 30 minutes.

The line will serve international business districts and residential areas, including Schaarbeek and Evere. Three stops will be located in the airport area: Brussels Airport (at the passenger terminal), Technics and Da Vinci. On the opposite side of the Brussels ring road, which will be crossed by a tunnel, stops will be built at Culliganlaan, Grensstraat and Hermeslaan. Closer to the city centre, the line will connect with the existing light rail network near Nato’s headquarters at the Eurocontrol terminus of line 62 from Heizel.

The project will require the construction of around 4km of new track, including 300m in Brussels and the remainder in Flanders. Total investment cost is estimated at €240m, with around 10,000 passengers expected to use the service each day. The line will be operated by Brussels public transport operator Stib.

Express tram cancelled

Separately, the A12 express tram project has been cancelled in its entirety. The Flemish minister for mobility, Annick De Ridder, told the Flemish Parliament that there was no budget for the scheme and that its status had moved from “on hold” to “stopped.”

The project comprised a new 30km line between Brussels and Willebroek running largely alongside the A12 motorway, and would have required the construction of 19km of new track. Only five new stops were planned at Willebroek, Londerzeel, Wolvertem, Meise and Strombeek-Bever to offer a competitive journey time of 40 minutes.

Factors behind the cancellation included the reluctance of several municipalities along the planned route to co-finance the project. The initial cost was estimated at €450m in 2023. Under the original timetable, the line was due to open in 2028, with construction starting in autumn 2025.

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