Tram route 1 is a tram route in

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

(

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

) 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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

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

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 ( ; ; ) 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 ...

. 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