North–South Axis

The North–South Axis is a tram tunnel in Brussels, Belgium, which crosses the city centre from North to South between Brussels-North railway station and Albert premetro station.

For other uses, see North-South Axis, North-South Corridor, North-South line, and North-South Railway.
Not to be confused with the North–South connection used by trains.
Brussels Premetro
North-South Axis
 42555
Brussels-North
(Gare du Nord/Noordstation)
4
 Rogier 26
 De Brouckère 15
 Bourse/Beurs
 Anneessens
 5182
 Lemonnier
 81
Brussels-South
(Gare du Midi/Zuidstation)
Eurostar26
 8182
 Porte de Hal/Hallepoort 26
Parvis de Saint-Gilles/
Sint-Gillis Voorplein
 Horta 8197
 Albert
51│34

The first section of this tunnel was opened on 4 October 1976 between Brussels-North and Lemonnier premetro station.[1] It was then expanded to Albert in 1993.[2] It is currently used by tram routes 3, 4, 51 and 82 as well as evening routes 31, 32 and 33. Only routes 3, 4 and 33 use the full tunnel. Routes 31 and 32 use it between the North and South station, route 51 between Lemonnier and Albert and route 82 between Lemonnier and Brussels-South railway station.

Circuit and stations

To the north, the North–South Axis starts in the municipality of Schaerbeek near the crossroad between Rue du Progrès/Vooruitgangstraat and Rue Rogier/Rogierstraat. The first station in the tunnel is Brussels-North, which offers a connection with the railway station of the same name. The tunnel then crosses the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode up to Rogier station where it connects with the Brussels metro. It then enters the City of Brussels, and stops at De Brouckère (with again a connection with the metro), Bourse/Beurs, Anneessens and Lemonnier. At Lemonnier, a tunnel entry allows trams to enter or leave the tunnel at this point. The tunnel then crosses Saint-Gilles, stopping at Brussels-South railway station (where it connects with the train and the metro), at Porte de Hal/Hallepoort (where it connects with the metro), at Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein, and at Horta. At Brussels-South railway station, another entry allows trams to leave or enter the tunnel. The last stop is Albert, and is located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest. Two different tunnel entries are then located on Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the greater ring road and on Avenue Jupiter/Jupiterlaan.

Metro line 3

The North-South axis will become an actual metro line, Metro line 3. In phase 1, the existing tram tunnel will be transformed into a metro line.[3] Lemonnier station will not be served by the metro. Instead there will be a new metro station, "Toots Thielemans" between Brussels-South station and Anneessens.[4] The metro line should be operational by 2025.

In phase 2 of the project, metro line 3 will be extended from Brussels-North station to Bordet railway station. Seven new stations and a depot will be built for this purpose. Construction should be done by 2030.[3]

Map of future Metro line 3. The grey part has to be constructed. Station "Constitution/Grondwet" will be named "Toots Thielemans" in more recent plans.

See also

References
  1. "STIB - Historique de la STIB de 1970 à 1979". Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  2. "STIB - Historique de la STIB de 1990 à 1999". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  3. "Works on metro line 3 and the Toots Thielemans station". www.brussels.be. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  4. "Construction of €175 million Brussels Metro Line 3 commenced". Urban Transport News. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
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