Tram route 1 is a tram route in Antwerp (

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

) connecting the Bolivarplaats in the Zuid neighborhood with the Havana site in the Luchtbal neighborhood to the North via the Leien and Noorderlaan.

Trajectory

Bolivarplaats-Amerikalei-Britselei-Frankrijklei-Italiëlei-Noorderplaats-Kempenstraat-Noorderlaan-Havana site.

Historical route (1902-1965)

Tram route 1 has already existed in the past from September 2, 1902 until July 14, 1965, running on a comparable North-South trajectory as the current line, between the Antwerpen-Zuid passenger railway station and Antwerpen-Dokken en -Stapelplaatsen cargo station. In 1902, it was the first electrified tram route in Antwerp, and consequently it received the number 1. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fig ...

, service on the route continued, although only until 8 o'clock. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

it became soon impossible to operate the line, due to damage inflicted on it. However, service could later slowly be resumed, and in 1944 the line was again fully operational. The line was eventually replaced a bus line in 1965, when the tram tracks at Antwerpen-Zuid station, as well as the old station itself, had to make place for the

Kennedytunnel The Kennedytunnel is an important road, rail, and bicycle tunnel to the south of Antwerp, Belgium, under the Scheldt river. The road tunnel forms a part of Highway R1 – the not yet completed inner ring motorway surrounding the city. Opened to ...

under the river

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

. Today, bus lines 1 and 13 have incorporated the previous itinerary of tram route 1 in their trajectory. Also, the southern half of the Leien is still serviced by tram routes 12 and 24.

New route (2019-)

As a part of the Brabo II and Noorderlijn plans, the new tram route 1 was officially opened on 8 December 2019, following the Bolivarplaats-Havana site trajectory. The creation of the tram route formed a part of the Noorderlijn ('northern line') construction works, which included the building of new tram tracks in the northern half of the Leien, as well as in the Noorderlaan further north and in the connecting streets. Antwerpenlijn1opera

Colour

Historically, tram route 1 was identified by a black number on a white background. The new tram route uses a white number on a purple background.

References

{{Reflist

External links

www.delijn.be
the operator of all public city transport in Antwerp and Flanders. Tram transport in Belgium 1