Belgium’s King Philippe runs in new Brussels Tram Line 10

The new streetcar line 10 was officially opened in Neder-Over-Heembeek on Saturday, with Belgium’s King Philippe – a licensed jet and helicopter pilot – in the driver’s seat for this one occasion.

The latest Brussels tramline runs from the Military Hospital to the center of Brussels and on to Churchill in Uccle, passing key interchanges such as North Station, Rogier, De Brouckère, South Station, and Albert.

The 15 km project was developed in record time: it started in 2018, with the first tracks already laid in January last year.

The new line responds to the major developments that Neder-Over-Heembeek is experiencing, with new services, infrastructure, businesses, and an increasing number of inhabitants. According to forecasts, between 2018 and 2025, the Brussels borough, which now has some 32,000 inhabitants, will have 24% more inhabitants, 32% more schoolchildren, and 36% more jobs.

Up to 2,400 passengers per hour

Construction of the tramway took only about 20 months. After an initial neighborhood survey in 2019, a permit application was submitted in November 2021. About a year later, planning permission was granted, and the first rails were laid in January 2023.

The streets and squares along the route have also been redesigned with plenty of greenery and a safe organization for all road users. Line 10 has ten new stops named after inspiring women, such as Simone Veil and Marguerite Yourcenar. During peak hours, the line offers capacity for 1,600 to 2,400 passengers per hour.

Crucial step

King Philip himself rode in the new streetcar on Saturday, and as of today, the public can use it. The new streetcar line will take you from the Military Hospital to Rogier in 30 minutes. The launch does come with rearranging the streetcar and bus offerings in the city’s northeast. Line 3, which until now ran between Esplanade and Churchill, merges with line 10 between Heembeek and Churchill.

A new Line 35 connecting Esplanade with Weldoeners/Bienfaiteurs will ensure the continuation of the part of Line 3’s route between Esplanade and Heembeek that will not be taken over by the new Line 10.

According to Brieuc de Meeûs, CEO of MIVB/STIB, the streetcar line’s arrival is a crucial step in Brussels’s sustainable development.