The Antwerp Premetro is a network consisting of lines 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 15 of the Antwerp Tram system. It is a

metre gauge Metre-gauge railways ( US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of or 1 metre. Metre gauge is used in around of tracks around the world. It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and ...

system which runs underground in the city centre and further out on surface lines, which are mostly separated from motor vehicle traffic. The network is operated by

De Lijn Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij De Lijn (, ), more commonly known as De Lijn, is a state-owned enterprise run by the Flemish government in Belgium to provide public transport with about 2240 buses and 399 trams. De Lijn was founded in 1991 after the ...

History

The network began construction on 5 January 1970 and was originally intended to become a fully underground network similar to the

Brussels Metro The Brussels Metro ( ; ) is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of four conventional metro lines and three '' premetro'' lines. The metro-grade lines are M1, M2, M5, and M6 wi ...

or German

Stadtbahn (; German for 'city railway'; plural ) is a German word referring to various types of urban rail transport. One type of transport originated in the 19th century, firstly in Berlin and followed by Vienna, where rail routes were created that co ...

en (

light railway A light railway is a Rail transport, railway built at lower costs and to lower standards than typical "heavy rail": it uses lighter-weight track, and may have more Grade (slope), steep gradients and Minimum railway curve radius, tight curves to ...

s), with a length of and comprising 22 stations. However, due to financial difficulties, the conversion to metro wss scrapped and only 19 stations were built, 7 of those still unused. The first section opened on 25 March 1975 between ''Opera'' and ''Groenplaats'', including station ''Meir''. This line was extended to reach ''Diamant'' and ''Plantin'' in 1980 and ''Van Eeden'' (via the under the river

Scheldt The Scheldt ( ; ; ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of Netherlands, the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to Old Englis ...

) in 1990. A north-eastern branch was opened in 1996, including the stations ''Sport'', ''Schijnpoort'', ''Handel'', ''Elisabeth'' and ''Astrid'', connecting to the existing line between Opera and Diamant. In the original plan a second axis was proposed from the south-western suburbs via Opera and Astrid to the eastern district Deurne. A metro tunnel was built under the Turnhoutsebaan in Borgerhout, as well as some shorter tunnels, as a part of these plans. However, construction stopped in the 1980s due to lack of funds. Although the tunnel itself was largely completed, the stations still had to be decorated and the track still had to be laid. Under the ''Pegasus plan'' (approved in 2004) it was decided to finally open this unused premetro tunnel, although, to reduce the costs of the project, it was decided only to open Zegel station. The stations Carnot, Drink, College and Morckhoven were not opened, but fitted to be used as emergency exits. This axis was opened partially in 2015. A second entrance from Deurne Turnhoutsebaan towards the "Reuzenpijp"-tunnel under Borgerhout was opened in September 2017. Underground station ''Foorplein'' remains unused. A tunnel linking Schijnpoort on the first axis with Carnot on the second one will be opened in 2027.

Network

Stations

The network consists of 19 stations, of which 12 are currently in use. Of the remaining 7, 4 are scheduled to be put in service while 3 remain unused in all plans. * Astrid (partly opened in 1996, fully opened in 2015, connecting with the

Central station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...

) *

Diamant The Diamant rocket (French for "diamond") was the first exclusively French expendable launch system and at the same time the first satellite launcher not built by either the United States or USSR. As such, it has been referred to as being a key ...

(opened in 1980, also connecting with the Central station) * Elisabeth (opened in 1996) * Groenplaats (opened in 1975) *

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

(opened in 1996) *

Meir Meir () is a Jewish male given name and an occasional surname. It means "one who shines". It is often Germanized as Maier, Mayer, Mayr, Meier, Meyer, Meijer, Italianized as Miagro, or Anglicized as Mayer, Meyer, or Myer. Alfred J. Kolatch, ''T ...

(opened in 1975) *

Opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

(partly opened in 1975, fully opened in 2019) * Plantin (opened in 1980) * Schijnpoort (opened in 1996) *

Sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

(opened in 1996) * Van Eeden (the only station on the left bank of the river

, opened in 1990) * Zegel (opened in 2015) * Carnot (not in use) * Drink (planned open 2026) * Collegelaan (not in use) * Morckhoven (planned open 2026) * Foorplein (not in use) * Sint-Willibrordus (planned open 2027) * Stuivenberg (planned open 2027) The stations Astrid and Opera were originally only partly opened, both having unused platforms inaccessible to travellers. However, the unused platforms on the −1 level in Astrid station were opened on 18 April 2015 as a part of the opening of the eastern premetro axis (the Reuzenpijp). In 2016, works have started on the renovation and extension of Opera station, as part of the ''Noorderlijn'' project. The unused platforms were put into use upon completion of the renovation and the construction of a premetro entrance on the Leien just south of the station.

Lines

* 2: Hoboken – Southern branch of axis 1 – Northern branch of axis 1 – Merksem * 3: Zwijndrecht – Eastern branch of axis 1 – Northern branch of axis 1 – Merksem * 5: Linkeroever – Eastern branch of axis 1 – Northern branch of axis 1 – Wijnegem * 6: Olympiade – Southern branch of axis 1 – Northern branch of axis 1 – Luchtbal * 8: Wommelgem – axis 2 – Astrid * 9: Linkeroever – Eastern branch of axis 1 – Southern branch of axis 1 – Eksterlaar * 10: Wijnegem – axis 2 – Hoboken * 15: Linkeroever – Eastern branch of axis 1 – Southern branch of axis 1 – Boechout

Future

Underground station ''Foorplein'' will probably only remain used as an emergency exit. In September 2021, 60 million euros in funding was earmarked to open the unused tunnel under Kerk & Pothoekstraats. Two intermediate stations along this route at Stuivenberg and Willibrod are planned. Additionally, two intermediate stations along the Turnhoutsbahn (which currently are bypassed as a quasi-express service on lines 8 & 10) will be opened at Drink and Morckhoven. It has not yet been announced how service will be modified by the new stations/tunnel. The target opening is 2024.

References

External links

De Lijn – official site

Photos from the Premetro in 2009
{{Authority control Tram transport in Belgium Rapid transit in Belgium Public transport in Antwerp Rail transport in Antwerp