North-South Axis
Encyclopedia
The North–South Axis is a tram
tunnel in Brussels
, Belgium, which crosses the city center from North to South starting at the Brussels-North railway station
to the Albert premetro station
. The first section of this tunnel was first opened on October 4, 1976 between the Brussels-North railway station
and the Lemonnier premetro station
. It was then expanded to Albert in 1993.
To the north, the tunnel starts in the municipality of Schaerbeek near the crossroad between the Rue du Progrès/Vooruitgangstraat and the Rue Rogier/Rogierstraat. The first station in the tunnel is the Brussels-North railway station, which offers a connection with the railway station of the same name. The tunnel then crosses the municipality of Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode
up to the Rogier station where it connects with the Brussels Metro
. It then enters the City of Brussels
, and stops at De Brouckère
(with again a connection with the metro), Bourse/Beurs
, Anneessens
and Lemonnier. At Lemonnier, a tunnel entry allows trams to enter or leave the tunnel at this point. The tunnel then crosses Saint-Gilles
, stopping at the Brussels-South railway station, where it connects with the train and the metro, at Porte de Hal/Hallepoort where it connects with the metro, at Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein
and at Horta
. At the Brussels-South railway station, another entry allows trams to leave or enter the tunnel. The last stop is Albert, and is located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest
. Two different tunnel entries are then located on the Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the greater ring road
and on Avenue Jupiter/Jupiterlaan.
It is currently used by tram routes 3
, 4
, 51
and 82
as well as evening routes 31, 32 and 33. Only routes 3, 4 and 33 use the full tunnel. Routes 31 and 32 use it between the North and South station, route 51 between Lemonnier and Albert and route 82 between Lemonnier and South station.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
tunnel in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium, which crosses the city center from North to South starting at the Brussels-North railway station
Brussels-North railway station
Bruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord is one of the three major railway stations in Brussels; the other two are Brussels Central and Brussels South...
to the Albert premetro station
Albert premetro station
The Albert premetro station is an underground tram station located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest in Brussels, Belgium. The station is at the crossroad between the Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the greater ring road and the Chaussée d'Alsemberg/Alsembergsesteenweg...
. The first section of this tunnel was first opened on October 4, 1976 between the Brussels-North railway station
Brussels-North railway station
Bruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord is one of the three major railway stations in Brussels; the other two are Brussels Central and Brussels South...
and the Lemonnier premetro station
Lemonnier premetro station
The Lemonnier premetro station is an underground tram station in the City of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. It is located near the crossroad between the Maurice Lemonnier boulevard and the small ring road. It is part of the North-South Axis tunnel which crosses the city center from the Brussels-North...
. It was then expanded to Albert in 1993.
To the north, the tunnel starts in the municipality of Schaerbeek near the crossroad between the Rue du Progrès/Vooruitgangstraat and the Rue Rogier/Rogierstraat. The first station in the tunnel is the Brussels-North railway station, which offers a connection with the railway station of the same name. The tunnel then crosses the municipality of Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode
Saint-Josse-ten-Noode
Sint-Joost-ten-Node or Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium....
up to the Rogier station where it connects with the Brussels Metro
Brussels Metro
The Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of a network with four metro line services with some shared sections. The metro has 49.9 km of network and 59 stations...
. It then enters the City of Brussels
City of Brussels
The City of Brussels is the largest municipality of the Brussels-Capital Region, and the official capital of Belgium by law....
, and stops at De Brouckère
De Brouckère station
De Brouckère is a Brussels rapid transit station consisting of both a metro station and a premetro station .-History:...
(with again a connection with the metro), Bourse/Beurs
Bourse/Beurs premetro station
The Bourse/Beurs premetro station is an underground tram station in Brussels, Belgium located in the city center under the Boulevard Anspach next to the Brussels Stock Exchange, after which it is named. It is also located meters from the Grand Place. Brussels trams stopping at that station are the...
, Anneessens
Anneessens premetro station
The Anneessens premetro station is an underground tram station in the municipality of the City of Brussels in the city center of Brussels, Belgium. The station is located under the Anneessens square along the Maurice Lemonnier boulevard. It is on the North-South Axis, a tram tunnel crossing the...
and Lemonnier. At Lemonnier, a tunnel entry allows trams to enter or leave the tunnel at this point. The tunnel then crosses Saint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles, Belgium
Saint-Gilles or Sint-Gillis is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Saint-Gilles has a multicultural identity stemming from its diverse population...
, stopping at the Brussels-South railway station, where it connects with the train and the metro, at Porte de Hal/Hallepoort where it connects with the metro, at Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein
Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein premetro station
Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein is part of the Brussels Metro, situated in the Saint-Gilles commune of the Brussels capital region, Belgium....
and at Horta
Horta premetro station
Horta premetro station is part of the Brussels Metro, situated in the Saint-Gilles commune of the Brussels capital region, Belgium.Opened on 3 December 1993, the station forms part of a southerly extension to the north-south premetro line , which originally linked the Brussels-North railway station...
. At the Brussels-South railway station, another entry allows trams to leave or enter the tunnel. The last stop is Albert, and is located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest
Forest, Belgium
Forest or Vorst is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.The town is commonly known for its concert hall...
. Two different tunnel entries are then located on the Avenue Albert/Albertlaan on the greater ring road
Greater ring (Brussels)
The Greater Ring in Brussels, Belgium is a set of roads in the shape of a ring, intermediate between the small ring and the main Brussels ring...
and on Avenue Jupiter/Jupiterlaan.
It is currently used by tram routes 3
Brussels tram route 3
The Brussels premetro- and tramline 3 connects the stop Esplanade with the stop Churchill in Ukkel/Uccle. The line was temporarily disbanded, but returned in service on 30 June 2008...
, 4
Brussels tram route 4
The tram route 4 in Brussels, Belgium is a tram route operated by the STIB/MIVB, which connects the Stalle car park in the southern municipality of Uccle to the Brussels-North railway station in the municipality of Schaerbeek. It was created on July 2, 2007 as a new route between the Esplanade and...
, 51
Brussels tram route 51
The tram route 51 in Brussels, Belgium is a tram route operated by the STIB/MIVB, which connects the Heysel metro station in the City of Brussels to the Van Haelen stop in the municipality of Uccle...
and 82
Brussels tram route 82
The tram route 82 in Brussels, Belgium is a tram route operated by the STIB/MIVB, which connects the Berchem-Sainte-Agathe railway station in Sint-Agatha-Berchem to the Drogenbos Castle in the Flemish municipality of Drogenbos...
as well as evening routes 31, 32 and 33. Only routes 3, 4 and 33 use the full tunnel. Routes 31 and 32 use it between the North and South station, route 51 between Lemonnier and Albert and route 82 between Lemonnier and South station.