Belgium - Tram services over obscure routes

Introduction

Some tram systems advertise their depot workings and enable one to ascertain the regular use by passenger-carrying services of junctions or sections of line that do not otherwise see public service. This occasional series lists such services that have come to notice. While the data for each system is current at the date stated, it is not the intention to endeavour to keep every entry up to date at every service change - the listing serves as a guide for travellers as to the sort of services they can look out for, enabling them to check current published timetable material at their time of travel.

To assist in tracing services, the route and/or timetable number for each journey is shown in parentheses, e.g. (1). Days of operation are in English notation (respectively: Su, M, T, W, Th, F, S) - plus "O" for only, "X" for excepted. Su (Sundays) usually includes public holidays in mainland Europe - but check locally.

Listings for other systems throughout the world - in the same format as shown below (please include date of timetable validity) - will always be welcomed.

Antwerpen / Anvers: De Lijn

This city has an enormous network but the regular EGTRE TSUL update team is not familiar with the system, so it is not yet recorded.

Groenplaats loop

From 31st March until the end of October 2025, the north end of route 7 is diverted to Groenplaats - see here. Trams use the large one-way loop at Groenplaats (around the perimeter of the square) to turn, going onto the loop before reaching the "normal" westbound stop as they arrive but passing the "normal" eastbound stop as they depart. It is therefore not known how much of the loop (if any) is traversed in passenger service. Further information will be gratefully received by the compilers.

Groenenhoek loop

This loop is used by route 4 trams to turn, after terminating at Berchem Station. A platform known as Keerlus Groenenhoek (Groenenhoek Loop) is shown on maps such as Gleisplanweb as being a public tram stop, so it appears that trams run to and from this platform (and thus round the loop) in passenger service.

From 1 November 2025, track replacement works on route 9 between Groenenhoek and the regular terminus of Silsburg mean that this route also turns at this loop, so it may be that there will be more trams using it in passenger service. The work on route 9 is due to last until 'Spring 2027'. Any information will be welcomed by the compilers.

Bruxelles / Brussel: STIB / MIVB

Advertised journeys in timetable dated 30 October 2006 with updates found on travels in November 2022. Network map as at 30 May 2022 which is more up to date on long term closures than one dated November 2022!

Montgomery

Routes 39 and 44 use the loop via rue Matin during the day, but direct access via Avenue de Tervuren to their underground turning point on Saturday und Sunday mornings due to resident complaints.

Wiels East to North curve

• In use by route 97 from 26 September 2022 until 2024 on a STIB webnote Note a traveller advises ONLY trams towards Wiels use this curve to reach the stop north of the junction to terminate, those starting from here travel the curve out of service from their turning point to pick up after the triangle junction.

Simonis

• Route 9 terminates underground at Simonis using a short spur at a right angle to passing route 19. This is not obvious from some maps but is here

Globe East to South curve

• Was in use until 4 November 2022 by route 51 to/from Van Haelen running via r 4 south of Albert to regain its normal line of route

Buyl South-east curve

• As at May 2023 in regular use by route 25. Previously only odd Depot journeys.

Princess Elisabeth North-east curve

No service on withdrawal of rush hours only route 24

Princess Elisabeth South-west curve

Used by diverted route 10 12/2/25-15/6/25.

Although various depot workings use lines and curves not in public service, none is advertised in the current timetables. Note, however:

• As at May 2023, routes 51, 81 and 82 use the tunnel routing and ramp at Bara. Previously different routes 56 (both directions) and 83 (towards Midi/Zuid) between Gare du Midi / Zuidstation and Bara used the surface level route with route 83 (from Midi/Zuid) then via the ramp at Bara.

Charleroi: TEC

As at September 2025 the access to timetables was only line by line on entering M1 etc. At that time there are three non-obvious routings. Route map as at September 2025 here. Services end around 20:00 all days of the week.

Beaux-Arts [formerly Palais]

Outbound M1 & M3's journeys do not run direct via the south to west curve from Ouest to Piges, but take the south to east curve and an underground loop to call at the westbound platform at Beaux-Arts/Palais, see the Gleisplan website track plan.

Piges - west to south - Ouest

A May 2024 visitor found this curve out of use, but the September 2025 timetable shows only the eastbound M1 running this way towards Charleroi Gare half hourly, hourly weekends, with the last departure from Piges at 18:12 SSuX, 19:42 SSuO.

Waterloo alternative route via loop line

Route M4 from the eastern suburb of Soleilmont travels one way around Charleroi on an anti-clockwise loop via the SNCB main station. As there is no south to east curve avoiding Waterloo station, outbound services to Soleilmont call at Waterloo heading west, then travel three sides of a double track loop via an east to north, south to east and west to east curves to line of route, with only inbound services travelling north to south on the fourth side. This can be understood better from the Gleisplan website track plan.

Gent/Gand: De Lijn

From BLNI May 2019 Report

• Depot workings off route 4 run via route 1 from St. Pieters. This involves a complete circuit of Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein and calls at both stops 20 and 18 - only served by these journeys. They also use the rare south to east curve at Korenmarkt.

Gent St-Pieters station

A March 2024 report advises line T4 was only running to its south terminus at UZ. Arriving at St-Pieters, trams do an almost a 360 degree circuit around the station square to the stop immediately outside of the station which was used for both off/on.

Stelplaats

As at March 2024 route T1 runs to Stelplaats, meaning the last section from Ledebergplein to Stelplaats normally done only by out of service trams to/from the nearby Depot can be travelled.

Knokke - Oostende - De Panne Coastal Tramway: De Lijn

Oostende

The shuttles from Oostende to Westende run mainly in the peak tourist season, but can run at weekends. These trams used to turn empty in Oostende but as the layout here is much changed from the old, trams now arrive into Oostende via the 'avoiding line' and a south end curve to the station platforms in passenger service. As there is no platform on the avoiding line, this and either the north or south end curve may be taken by any tram starting/terminating in Oostende form either direction as appropriate.

Harbour Alternative routes

There are further inland alternative routes available in Oostende, Zeebrugge and Heist when shipping closes the regular lifting bridge route.