The forthcoming Ring trambus requires preparatory works

19/11/2019

The forthcoming Ring trambus requires preparatory works

A trambus on the ring road of the Brabantnet in 2020, that's the plan. We won't wait until the works have been completed to roll out the trambuses on the modified section of the Ring trambus. As such, we will first roll out the trambuses on bus line 820 between Brussels Airport and the UZ Brussels. They will ride via Brucargo, the station and the centre of Vilvoorde, the Kassei district, the business zone around the Medialaan, Koningslo, Strombeek and the Heysel site. There will be a bus every 15 minutes in both directions. In order to make this interregional connection feasible with 24-metre-long trambuses, various modifications to the bus lanes and the stops will be necessary.

Adapted bus lanes for smooth traffic

In order for the trambuses to ride on line 820, various road works were carried out in Zaventem, Vilvoorde and Strombeek-Bever. Obstacles were removed to ensure the long trambuses can pass through smoothly. Various stops and platforms have also been extended so that passengers can get on and off the Ring trambus safely and comfortably. 

 

Progress of the works

The installation of bus lanes for the Ring trambus is progressing well and according to plan.  

  • In August 2018, De Werkvennootschap built the bus lanes on the Luchthavenlaan in Vilvoorde. Between the De Vuist junction (the intersection with the Woluwelaan) and the Mima bridge (the underpass of the train tracks at Vilvoorde station) separate bus lanes were constructed in both directions. These have since been given a positive evaluation.
  • In November 2018, the Teniersstraat in Vilvoorde was renewed. The current bus line 820 was often delayed in that street turning onto Rubensstraat, and buses therefore lost a lot of time. Since the Ring tram bus will soon follow this route, De Werkvennootschap has decided to construct a separate bus lane before the junction in order to guarantee smooth flowing traffic. Since 15 November 2018, passengers on the current bus lines have benefited from the time savings of the new bus lane. 
  • In the spring of 2019, three crossroads with traffic lights in Vilvoorde and Machelen were modified to allow more priority to be given to (tram)buses.
  • The construction of the bus lanes in the Sint-Annalaan in Strombeek and Koningslo are crucial for the Ring trambus. Bus line 820 currently runs through the centre of Strombeek, but in order to shorten travel times and improve punctuality, the Ring trambus will run via the Sint-Annalaan. The works on the Sint-Annalaan were started in May 2019, with adjustments to the utility lines (water, gas, electricity, telecommunications). These works are also going according to plan, you can read more at www.sint-annalaan.be.

The permits for the most crucial bus lanes on the Woluwelaan in Machelen and Diegem, as well as those in the centre of Vilvoorde (Rubensstraat, Heldenplein and Stationlei) have been obtained. De Werkvennootschap has engaged a contractor and the work on the utility networks began on 8 June 2020. More information about the reconstruction of Vilvoorde city centre is available on www.heldenpleinvilvoorde.be

 

Changes to Brussels territory

The Brussels Government has also granted permission to deploy Line 820 trambusses on Brussels territory. In the meantime, a new terminus has been constructed at UZ Brussel in Jette. The permission from the Brussels Government allowing the trambusses to operate via the Romeinsesteenweg means that work can also now begin on all the necessary modifications to the various stops and intersections on Brussels territory.

More information

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