Métro Léger de Charleroi
Métro Léger de Charleroi | |||
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metre gauge | |||
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The Métro Léger de Charleroi[1][2][3][4] (abbreviated as MLC, also locally referred to as the Métro Carolo[5] or simply Le Métro[6][7] in French) is a 33-kilometre (21 mi) light rail network in Belgium. The system consists of a loop line around central Charleroi and three branches towards the suburbs of Gilly, Anderlues and Gosselies. Another branch to Châtelet (historically, the third one) was partially built, never entered service, but will finally do so in 2026.[8]
The current system was opened in seven phases ranging from 1976 to 2012, which included 28 stations, of which 24 were in service as of 2012[update] along with 6 regular tram stops in Anderlues. On 22 June 2013, 18 more stations were added to the metro system when line M3 to Gosselies went into service.[9]
The original plans for the network were much more extensive with 8 branches radiating from the central loop, but had to be abandoned due to high costs and low prospective ridership rates.
Operations
As of June 2013[update], the network consists in a central loop running around the centre of Charleroi and comprising 8 stations, from which three branches radiate towards suburban areas:
- A 14 km (8.7 mi) branch with 10 stations and 6 tram stops runs west to Vicinalnetwork.
- A 4 km (2.5 mi) branch with 6 stations runs northeast to Gilly.
- A 7.5 km (4.7 mi) branch with 18 tram stops runs north to Gosselies.[10]
In addition, another branch is currently inactive:
- A branch running east towards Châtelet was built during the 1980s. A first section comprising 4 stations was completed but never entered service, while further sections are in various stages of completion.
The network allows transfers to the national railway network at the main
Lines
The completion and opening of the central loop in 2012 led to a significant reorganization of the metro/tram lines previously operating on the system. The five former metro lines – 54, 55, 84, 88, and 89 – that operated on the network were replaced on 27 February 2012 by three new lines (M1, M2 and M4); a fourth line (M3) went into service on 22 June 2013.
Line | Route | Opened | Length | Stations |
---|---|---|---|---|
M1 | Waterloo – Palais – Piges – Anderlues-Monument(anticlockwise) |
27 February 2012 | 32.1 km (19.9 mi) | 28 (18 distinct) + 12 tram stops (6 distinct) |
M2 | Anderlues-Monument – Piges – Palais – Waterloo – Parc – Sud – Ouest – Palais – Piges – Anderlues-Monument (clockwise) |
27 February 2012 | 32.1 km (19.9 mi) | 29 (18 distinct) |
M3 | Gosselies-Faubourg de Bruxelles – Piges – Palais – Waterloo – Parc – Sud – Ouest – Palais – Piges – Gosselies-Faubourg de Bruxelles (clockwise) |
22 June 2013 | 19.5 km (12.1 mi) | 11 (9 distinct) + 27 tram stops (18 distinct) |
M4 | Soleilmont – Waterloo – Palais – Ouest – Sud – Parc – Waterloo – Soleilmont(anticlockwise) |
27 February 2012 | 12 km (7.5 mi) | 21 (14 distinct) |
M5 | Neuville – Chet – Pensée – Centenaire – Champeau – Léopold | 2026 [11] | 4.20 km
(2.61 mi) |
14
(6 distinct) |
The system is run by
From 2012 on, all trams have been equipped with orange colored LED destination indicators, displaying the line number and final station. Prior to that, mechanical destination indicators were used, using various layouts. The most common display showed two distinctly colored rectangles indicating the most important stations of the line, with the line number displayed on a white square between both rectangles. Rectangle color used the following code:
- Pale yellow : used on lines originating/terminating in Anderlues.
- Bright yellow : used on lines originating/terminating at Gilly.
- Dark blue : used on lines originating/terminating at Sud.
- Dark green : used on lines originating/terminating at Parc.
Beside this system, it happened that trams only displayed the terminus station as one of Charleroi-Sud (dark blue background) or Parc (green), without line number. Line 84 used a completely different display with black characters on a completely white background and line number on the right.
Trams run on the right track, except on the
Stations
As of 2013[update], the Charleroi Metro network comprises 48 metro stations (24 metro stations and 24 tram stops) served by the four Charleroi Metro lines. There are also 3 unused stations on the unfinished Châtelet branch (see below).
Station entrances are marked with a stylized white "M" on a blue background, identical to the symbol used by the
Rolling stock
Passenger cars
Charleroi's LRV cars are bi-directional
According to an official statement by TEC Charleroi,[14] 44 of these trams are operational, the future network with the completed downtown loop and the Gilly branch extension requiring 22, then 35 when the Gosselies branch opens.
Each unit has a length of 22.88 m (75 ft 1 in) and a width of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in), and is capable of carrying 44 seated and 148 standing passengers (6 pax/m2), totalling 192 passengers.[Note 1] It is powered by two electric engines providing a total power of 456 kW (612 hp). Their maximum speed is 65 km/h (40 mph).[15] They can theoretically be coupled to form trains of up to three trams, however the single tram configuration is the preferred one on the Charleroi network, with only a few peak hour services on line M4 being operated by 2 trams coupled together.
Most trams carry the distinctive bright yellow, red and grey livery of TEC Charleroi and are identified by a 4 digit number starting with 74. Six trams (7404, 7426, 7428, 7448, 7453 and 7454) wear a temporary special livery to celebrate the new lines created on 27 February 2012. Prior to that date, several trams were still wearing the old
Work cars
- Type S – SNCV Hainaut – work car
- Type SJ – SNCV Hainaut – passenger cars – acquired 1984
- Esslingen/Schorling tram – track scrubber – acquired 1981
History
The Charleroi metro was planned in the 1960s as a 52 km (32 mi) network, consisting of eight branch lines radiating from a central downtown loop and no less than 69 stations.[16] If completed as planned, this would have been the largest metro system in the Benelux region.
In the 1960s, Charleroi already had an extensive tramway network, operated by both
Full completion of the initial project was envisioned between 1992 and 1994. As a general rule, plans called for tracks to be at ground level, on dedicated infrastructure (separated from the street). If not possible, priority was given to viaducts, and tunnels were considered as the last option, except in Charleroi downtown or in densely populated areas.
The first section opened on 21 June 1976, between
Stations
The remaining stations on the
On 30 August 1996, two additional stations were opened on the downtown loop (
were created to duplicate the two existing lines while using the northern part of the unfinished loop.2008 and 2009 saw the resumption of metro construction, following a 75 million euro loan from the
The finished downtown loop was put in service on 27 February 2012 with the completion of the
The Gosselies branch (Line M3) project created a new branch starting at
The project included full renovation of the Chaussée de Bruxelles (Brussels Road) which is used by the new line.
Because of the narrowness of some streets in Gosselies, the line uses single track in different streets for each direction.
The Gosselies branch was scheduled for completion in 2011, however multiple delays had delayed its opening until 2013.[18]
The fourth line of the Charleroi Metro thus entered service on 22 June 2013. This Gosselies branch is served by a new line, dubbed "M3" (yellow color), which is how it is now depicted on official maps and on station signage.
Expansion plans
Châtelet line: Line M5 branch
The original metro project envisioned an eastern branch from
Sometimes special journeys are organized to the station Centenaire on the ghost metro, like on 19 March 2017.[19]
The Waterloo to Centenaire part has been finished, but was never put into service. As a result, the finished Neuville, Chet, Pensée and Centenaire stations remained closed and were vandalized. Sometime in the 2010s the station building of Centenaire has been demolished.[20]
Only structural work was completed on the Centenaire to Léopold part, with no tracks installed. The rest of the branch has never been built.
In 2011 preliminary estimates gave a cost of 5 million euros to refresh the Waterloo-Centenaire section, and another 20 million to complete the line to Corbeau (serving a nearby popular shopping mall).[21]
In early 2021 it was announced[22] that the Châtelet branch may be finally completed, and the existing part of the branch renewed, using the funds from the Charleroi's €250 million share of the Walloon Recovery Plan. If given go-ahead, the line may be opened by 2026. The funding has been confirmed on 23 June 2021, the project will benefit from €60 million to be used to revitalise the line between Waterloo and Pensée, the last complete station on the line, and to extend it to Viviers to provide connection to the new hospital under construction and due to open in 2024.[23][24]
Tram renewal
Le Tec in Charleroi on 21 June 2022 presents its first tram with a new look. This renewal operation will involve 12 vehicles per year until 2026. This investment has a total amount of 22 million euros to renew the entire fleet, 500,000 euros per tram. It was assigned to Alstom, which is in charge of most of the work and is subcontracting certain aspects, in collaboration with Entra, an adapted work company based in Fleurus.[25]
Network map
See also
- List of Charleroi Metro stations
- List of Charleroi Metro former lines
- Vicinal tramway
- Transport in Belgium
- List of rapid transit systems
- Brussels Metro
Notes
- ^ An original SNCV brochure mentions 98 standing pax at 4 pax/m2, however indications inside trams mention a total capacity of 192, which equates to (192 total – 44 seats = 148 standing pax).
References
- Transport En Commun Charleroi (TEC Charleroi). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Extension du métro léger de Charleroi" (in French). Le site officiel de la Wallonie. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Métro léger de Charleroi" (in French). Structurae. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Métro léger de Charleroi : la ligne M5 bientôt en service !" (in French). Télésambre A.S.B.L. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "De nouveaux horizons pour le métro carolo !" (in French). Ville de Charleroi. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "En transports en commun" (in French). Ville de Charleroi. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- Transport En Commun Charleroi (TEC Charleroi). Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Le Métro - Charleroi en Commun". Letec.be. TEC. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Ouverture de la ligne M3 vers Gosselies" [Opening of M3 line to Gosselies] (in French). Métro Léger de Charleroi. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Charleroi light rail returns to Gosselies". Railway Gazette International. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ https://www.chantiers.letec.be/metrocharleroi/
- ^ "Antenne d'Anderlues". Metrocharleroi.over-blog.com (in French). 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Transport Database and Photogallery". Phototrans.eu. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Le TEC Charleroi sera prêt techniquement à accueillir son nouveau métro". La Nouvelle Gazette (in French). Charleroi. 2 June 2011.
- ^ "Les vicinaux – Ses autobus, ses tramways" (PDF). Brussels: SNCV.
- ^ "Charleroi Planned Network" (gif). UrbanRail.net. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ "European Investment Bank 2007 press release". Eib.org. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Le métro léger de Charleroi accuse un lourd retard". La Nouvelle Gazette (in French). Charleroi. 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Tram 9148 and trailer 9309 at Chet station – photo 874". lesrails.com. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "Google Maps Street View – compare views from November 2013 and September 2018".
- ^ Mathieu Colinet (26 July 2011). "Le Tec rêve de son métro oublié" [TEC thinks about its forgotten metro]. Le Soir (in French). Brussels. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012.
- ^ Boquet, Vincent (1 February 2021). "Plan de relance wallon: la ligne de métro vers Châtelet sera prolongée" [Walloon stimulus plan: The Châtelet line will be extended]. Télésambre – Télévision locale de Charleroi et sa région – Thuin – Chimay – Basse Sambre (in French). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Le métro de Charleroi se prolongera bien vers le futur grand hôpital à Gilly" [Charleroi Metro will be extended to the future big hospital in Gilly]. RTBF (in French). 23 June 2021.
- ^ Boquet, Vincent (24 June 2021). "320 millions d'euros promis par l'Europe pour la Relance de Charleroi" [320 million euros promised by Europe for the recovery of Charleroi]. Télésambre – Télévision locale de Charleroi et sa région – Thuin – Chimay – Basse Sambre (in French).
- ^ "Les trams du TEC Charleroi complètement reliftés: 500.000€ nécessaires pour chacun!". sudinfo.be (in French). 21 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
External links
- TEC – official website (in English)
- Charleroi (metro) at UrbanRail.net
- Photos from a 2003 trip along the Châtelet branch
- Trams-Trolleybus.be – Métro léger de Charleroi (in French)
- Tram Travels: Transport En Commun en Wallonie (TEC)