Brussels Metro Transformed
Passengers travelled for free on the 4th of April on the Brussels Metro, on the occasion of opening the last segment of the circle line, connecting Delacroix and Gare de l’Ouest stations. The whole metro network has been reorganized as well: The 2 line leaves and arrives in at Simonis, where every second train continues to Roi Bauduin as line 6; and the remaining 3 branches of the former 1A/B line are served by lines 1 and 5.
Now all four heavy metro lines stop at Gare de l’Ouest, which is becoming the terminus for the new RER suburban rail system later this year.
Both old and new maps appear inside the trains. The latter is a Spanish CAF-produced Boa train, one of the 15 ordered in 2004. Further 6 are arriving until 2011.
Gare de l’Ouest
CAF Boa leaves Gare de l’Ouest, the new RER platforms in the background.
the station features ticket gates, a novelty in Brussels.
All four heavy metro lines call at the new station. Lines 3 and 4 are “Premetro” light rails, trams running underground in the centre.
Surface transit is also transforming, the tram 82 replacing bus 85 at Gare de l’Ouest is on the first picture, followed by reorganization works on tram line 25.
“The new metro makes Brussels move”, says the citywide advert campaign, on the platform of Gare Centrale, on the Delacroix matrix display and at Rogier.
Even more of my pics on flickr.
