Tram line 9 Simonis, UZ Brussel and the Heysel plain
The extension of tram line 9 is ready. The line now Simonis with the Heysel plain, via, among others, the UZ Brussel, the center of Jette, the Centenary Square and the Modelwijk. This new section will be put into service this weekend and offers a fast connection to the municipalities of Jette, Ganshoren, Brussels-city and Koekelberg, and connects to metro lines 2 and 6.
Connect Simonis to the Heysel plain in just 20 minutes via UZ Brussel and the center of Jette. Tram 9 is planned today, with the extension to the Koning Boudewijn metro station. This new connection lies between the two end points. The line offers a lot of revenue with other tram and bus lines and with metro lines 2 and 6, in Simonis and Koning Boudewijn.
A first step in 2018
The of line 9 is divided into two phases. The first phase will take place in September 2018, when King Philippe drives the first tram 9 from Simonis station. The then new line is 4 km long and connects to the Simonis (front) metro station with the Dikke Beuk stop. Good for 10 stops and 14 minutes. Line 9 offers travelers a new, modern and efficient public transport system, which connects to metro lines 2-6 and the districts of Jette and the east of Ganshoren with each other. The line also makes it easy to get to the commercial heart of Jette (Place Astrid, also known as Spiegelplein) and the UZ Brussel hospital.
The line was an immediate success. There are now an average of 12,000 travelers a day on this first part of the line.
A new step today
From the start, it was planned to extend line 9 to the Heysel plain. Now the time has come: line 9 has been extended from the temporary terminus at Dikke Beuk to the Koning Boudewijn metro station, where the new terminus of the line is located. This extension, which is 1.6 km long, has 4 stops and 6 minutes.
The extended line 9 serves the Modelwijk, Palfijnplein and Houba de Strooperlaan.
“Line 9 was an immediate success. Its extension will make the line even more attractive, as it offers a new connection to the King Baudouin station next to the already existing connection at Simonis station. This document provides access for patients, visitors and staff of the hospital UZ Brussel CEO of the STIB.
A quality public space
It is much more than an extension of tram 9: Brussels Mobility gave a real rejuvenation treatment to the basic space on the route, complete with its own bedding, the solution of safety problems for the various and the improvement of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The project transformed Dikke Beuklaan into a real tree-lined avenue.
A sustainable project
The materials have been carefully chosen to maintain the permeability of the soil and thus prevent runoff and flooding during heavy rainfall. The project preferred grass and semi-permeable materials such as small cobblestones to “hard” impermeable surfaces. In total there will be 210 trees along the route. The last trees are continued.
The character of the tram route is enhanced by greening its own tram bed and by planting hedges and grasses along the line. This landscaping is done under the tram line that has been in service for 6 months, it is stamped under the ballast under the tracks.
The newly constructed tram stops are built in such a way that the trams are at the same height, which improves accessibility for everyone.
Christophe, Director-General of Brussels Mobility: «With this network expansion of Brussels Mobility, it contributes to the development of public transport in the north of Brussels, with a connection to the important areas in our region. We have used it to completely renovate the public space, to offer residents and passers-by a high-quality and safe environment.”
To a third phase
“Another example of the dynamism of the STIB network! Now everyone can travel the extended tram 9 from Simonis to the Heysel in 20 minutes via the UZ Brussel and the center of Jette. In a next phase, line 9 will be extended to Heizel metro station ”, added an enthusiastic Elke Van den Brandt, Brussels Minister of Mobility.
In a next step, it is not planned to extend line 9 to the Heysel metro station. This new section should enable direct operation with the congress center and the Heysel Palaces and offer a direct connection with tram line 7.
Line 14 adjusted
route of the bus line, which is currently the North Station, with the Heysel via UZ Brussel, Dikke Beuk, Amethist and King Baudouin, is being adapted to the introduction of the extended line 9. The line is now limited to UZ Brussel, so as not to overlap with line 9, which serves deviate.
“The tram 9 that forms between Simonis and King Baudouin, the content of the access to the city center and the connection for a better connection to the residents of the Model District. Accessibility to connection options is a priority for our project from City at 10 minutes. The layout of the public space on the route also makes it possible to solve the safety problems at the various intersections and to improve the pedestrian and bicycle paths”, explains Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels.
Hervé Doyen, Mayor of Jette: “When the project for the connection between Simonis and UZ Brussel was developed, I strongly argued for a more proactive, ambitious and attractive route for the users of public transport… and thus to reach the Thousands of additional residents, employees and commuters can now board tram 9 and reach their destination quickly and comfortably want to encourage the car.”