Lydia Peeters, Flemish Minister for Mobility, wants to roll out the basic accessibility decree with effect from 1 January 2022. In Antwerp, the new tram network will be put on hold in anticipation of additional tram devices. After many discussions between Minister Peeters and concerned citizens and citizen movements of tram 7 and tram 4 in the Antwerp transport region, there appeared to be no support for the new tram network to be rolled out.

“The 15 transport region councils in Flanders have all provided advice on De Lijn's plans for the core network and the additional network. All participants and officials involved in the transport region councils and local authorities have contributed very hard to this, for which I am grateful and appreciative. Soon I will present the plans for the core network to the Flemish government, where I will also propose to put the new tram network on hold in the transport plan of the Antwerp transport region, until extra capacity is added through the delivery of the new new trams. and the overhaul of the existing PCC trams. I hope this will take away the concerns that exist. ”

At the moment there are a lot of investments ahead of the tram network in Antwerp. Between 2019 and 2021, among other things, 60 new tram sets were ordered, the delivery time of which is between 2022 and 2024. At the same time, VVM De Lijn was asked to make an overhaul of the PCC trams, the complete overhaul has a lead time from 2021 to and by 2026. The overhaul of the PCC trams and the delivery of new trams offer additional potential for the Antwerp transport region and the modal shift in Antwerp. Minister Peeters therefore argues intensively consultation with VVM De Lijn not to implement the tram network until sufficient old PCC trams have been overhauled and sufficient new trams have been delivered. Peeters will take this proposal to the Flemish government when the other plans of the Core Network are also submitted. All other parts of the transport plan for the Antwerp transport region can start on 1 January 2022.

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tram in the center of Antwerp
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