Restriction on two Antwerp tram lines because tracks are in poor condition (Hoboken)
De Lijn is introducing a speed limit on a section of tram lines 2 and 4 in Antwerp because the tracks are in poor condition. On average, the driving time will increase by no less than 7 minutes between the Zwaantjes stop and the Lelieplaats final stop in the Hoboken district.
Source† BELGA
According to De Lijn, the case must be taken because the tracks on that part of the route lead to defects. De Lijn gives maximum priority to the safety of passengers. “As a precaution, it has been decided to reduce the speed on this section to 10 kilometers per hour.” De Lijn says it is still investigating how the nuisance that travelers plan through the plans can be mitigated.
The condition of the tram tracks in Antwerp is generally a sore point, De Lijn explicitly admits. “Due to structural underinvestment, large parts of the network have come to an end and are in urgent need of renewal,” it sounds. “The outdated tram network in Ghent is also struggling with similar problems.”
A structural solution would be in the works. “Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters recently foresaw an increase in the budget for conservation investments, which can gradually be made up for,” said De Lijn. “This will mean innovations to the tram networks in the near future.”