Future Toots Thielemans metro station opens to public on Car-Free Sunday
The public will have a rare opportunity to explore the construction site of the new Toots Thielemans metro station in central Brussels on Sunday, during the annual car-free day. The shell of the station is expected to be completed by the end of December.
Visitors will learn more about the development of the station, as well as the archaeological discoveries made on-site. The open day will run from 10.00 until 16.00 and around 3,000 visitors are expected.
This station, part of a broader infrastructure expansion, forms an important link in the future metro line 3. Running under Avenue de Stalingrad, the line will connect Albert station to Bordet, to address the increasing demands of Brussels' public transport system.
"The existing pre-metro lines are saturated; the North-South axis needs to be expanded," said Carlos Van Hove, director of the Metro Noord-Albert programme.
© BELGA VIDEO JEROME FETU
The project's first phase involves converting the current pre-metro system between Albert and Gare du Nord into a full metro line.
While most of the stations along this stretch were initially designed to accommodate such a conversion, Lemonnier, built in the 1950s, presented challenges. Its outdated design did not meet modern safety and accessibility standards, which led to the decision to construct the new Toots Thielemans station nearby.
Construction began in October 2020. Once the shell is complete, the station will undergo further development, including the installation of tracks, electricity and cladding for the walls and floors. However, the project has faced financial challenges, costing around 400 million euros more than initially anticipated.
If all permits are secured, public transport operator STIB plans to begin dismantling the nearby Zuidpalais in August next year, with shops and services required to vacate the building.
Work on the new metro line and Toots Thielemans metro station in Brussels, 19 September 2024 © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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