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ANTWERP | Extra ferries and shuttle buses from May 2026 to accommodate premetro works, but Waasland Tunnel must first close for three months

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From May 2026, tram services between Antwerp-Central Railway Station and Linkeroever (Left Bank) will be suspended for at least six months due to major renovation works on the premetro tunnel, which dates back to 1975 and is in urgent need of refurbishment. In preparation, the Waasland Tunnel will close for three months this autumn. The city has outlined several measures to maintain accessibility during the disruption.

Originally, the renovation of the premetro tunnel between Central Station and Frederik Van Eedenplein was to be carried out in two phases. However, due to the presence of asbestos, the current plan is to tackle all works simultaneously. The project is expected to last eight months, with the tunnel fully closed for at least six to six and a half months. Work will proceed around the clock, including at night, on weekends and during the construction holiday.

At a press conference on 20 May 2025 morning, the City of Antwerp announced a series of actions to ensure continued access across the Scheldt. Public transport services will be adjusted on both sides of the river.

Waasland Tunnel closed for three months

In preparation, the Waasland Tunnel will be closed for three months for the installation of a new ventilation system, essential for the operation of De Lijn shuttle buses that will maintain connections between the Left and Right Banks during the works. These preparatory works will begin on Monday 8 September and continue until 8 December. The tunnel will be completely closed during this period, and traffic will be diverted via the J.F. Kennedy Tunnel.

During the premetro closure, shuttle buses will run from the park-and-ride on the Left Bank, via the Kennedy Tunnel, to the south of the city. From there, passengers can take smaller shuttle buses, with a capacity of fifteen people, through the Waasland Tunnel to reach the city centre and the north.

More ferries and waterbuses

The ferry and water bus services will also be expanded. An additional ferry will be introduced and existing services will operate more frequently and for longer hours. 

Three ferries will link Steenplein and Linkeroever, offering departures every ten minutes between 7 AM and 7 PM. Outside of these hours, the ferries will run every half hour, including overnight. This should allow for the transport of up to 400 passengers per hour.

Rail capacity

The city is working with NMBS /SNCB and Infrabel to increase rail capacity during peak hours by coupling additional train carriages. However, the reopening of the Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station remains uncertain. 

The City continues to press NMBS / SNCB on this matter. There was no NMBS / SNCB representative present at the press conference, which Antwerp Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis (N-VA) called disappointing. He said he would have preferred NMBS / SNCB to be involved and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to reopening the station.

NMBS /SNCB and Infrabel are now exploring the possibility of reopening the station, as part of a broader effort to maintain urban accessibility during upcoming infrastructure works.

The city’s request is being evaluated by NMBS and Infrabel, who are analysing the technical and logistical feasibility, including rail capacity and necessary infrastructure.

Both a reopening of the former Regatta station and a temporary stop near the Park-and-Ride are under consideration. Although NMBS / SNCB had previously indicated that a short-term reopening was unlikely due to capacity constraints and accessibility issues, discussions have since progressed, with Koen Kennis suggesting they are now in a final phase.

Christmas shoping

Once the premetro works are completed, a temporary shuttle tram will run between the Left and Right Banks to support Christmas shopping traffic. 

According to De Lijn director Ann Schoubs, the tram will operate for one to one and a half months. Planned works on the Sint-Annavoetgangerstunnel (St. Anne’s Pedestrian Tunnel) and the Kennedy Tunnel will be postponed until after the premetro renovation is complete.

The goal is to introduce a single ticket valid across train, tram and bus services, as well as a revised fare for the water bus, although this has not yet been confirmed.

According to Flemish Minister for Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA), the measures are expected to enable 2,300 people per hour to cross the Scheldt—600 more than the current capacity of trams in the premetro tunnel during rush hour. The potential reopening of the Left Bank train station could add capacity for an additional 200 passengers per peak hour. Even if that does not materialise, the minister stated there would still be sufficient capacity.

Concerns over accessibility plan: “A real need for a train station on Linkeroever”

The passenger organisation TreinTramBus (TTB) has expressed strong reservations about the proposed accessibility measures. According to spokesperson Peter Meukens, the plan is flawed and overly optimistic.

He argues that the use of shuttle buses with a capacity of fifteen passengers via the Waasland Tunnel will be costly due to the number of drivers required and will not be able to transport sufficient numbers. He also warns that without a dedicated bus lane, especially from the Left to the Right Bank, buses will likely become stuck in traffic congestion, reducing their effectiveness. Meukens believes the city is counting its chickens before they hatch, and that the projected transport capacity is being grossly overestimated.

Meukens maintains that the most viable solution remains a temporary train station on Linkeroever, ideally situated near the Park-and-Ride facility.

He points out that a temporary platform was built in Berendrecht for a tulip-picking event, suggesting that a similar approach could work here. Although passengers would have to cross tracks, this could be managed with an emergency bridge. He adds that the railway line has enough capacity to accommodate a new stop, and that establishing such a station would be relatively inexpensive and quick to realise—provided NMBS / SNCB and Infrabel give their consent. Meukens calls for increased pressure from the Antwerp authorities to make this happen, particularly given that the Prime Minister is from the city.

Retail

The Neutral Union for the Self-Employed (Neutraal Syndicaat voor Zelfstandigen, NSZ) has also voiced concerns, particularly over the economic impact of the planned disruptions. Regional director Nico Volckeryck warns that the three-month closure of the Waasland Tunnel, followed by long-term works on the premetro tunnel, will cause serious inconvenience, traffic chaos, and inevitable loss of turnover for local entrepreneurs.

He acknowledges the attempts to reduce disruption through ferries and shuttle buses, but questions their practical effectiveness, asking whether the services will operate frequently enough and provide seamless connections. He also stresses the need for clear communication with tourists, shoppers, and foreign visitors.

Politicians

Flemish Parliament member Stephanie Vanden Eede from Vooruit has criticised the rollout of the measures by Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder. She believes the policy lacks thorough preparation and appears more like a communication exercise.

Vanden Eede expresses doubts about the proposed shuttle buses, stating that vehicles with only fifteen seats are simply too small to cope with the expected demand. While she welcomes the expansion of the ferry service, she insists that passengers deserve better alternatives than what is currently being offered.

Bogdan Vanden Berghe, faction leader for Groen in Antwerp and a member of the Flemish Parliament, also doubts the feasibility of transporting 2,300 travellers across the Scheldt during peak hours, calling the estimate wishful thinking.

He raises questions about how shuttle buses will avoid becoming stuck in traffic and points out that the success of the proposed rail link hinges on the uncertain reopening of the Linkeroever station. Vanden Berghe criticises Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis for his passive approach and urges him to take initiative now that the Flemish plan is in place. He stresses the need for coordinated communication with schools and companies to help flatten peak hour travel patterns and reduce disruption.

No large events?

Groen further advocates for reducing the need for Linkeroever residents to cross the river by expanding local services such as social services, counter services, and even the weekly market. The party opposes holding large events on the Left Bank during the summer of 2026 to avoid increasing traffic.

A relief?

Peter Mertens, municipal councillor for PVDA and a resident of Linkeroever, describes the updated ferry plans as a relief. He welcomes the addition of a ferry and extended sailing hours, and proposes introducing an extra ferry via the Kennedy Tunnel to further reduce pressure on the system. However, Mertens is disappointed by the lack of measures to offset disruption caused by the Waasland Tunnel closure.

He suggests making the Liefkenshoek Tunnel toll-free during the works. Mertens concludes that the situation highlights the long-term consequences of underinvestment in public transport and infrastructure, and calls for immediate investments in maintenance, staffing, buses and ferries to ensure reliable future connections across the Scheldt.

Shoppers over residents

Pieter De Cock, CD&V faction leader in Antwerp, believes the current plan is overly focused on crossing the Scheldt and fails to account for the mobility needs of Antwerp’s own residents, particularly those in the districts and Linkeroever. He criticises the prioritisation of a shuttle tram for shoppers over an efficient system for residents.

De Cock argues that the Waasland Tunnel serves as a vital local route and that using it primarily for small-capacity shuttle buses is inappropriate. He calls for a more comprehensive nuisance reduction plan that properly addresses the needs of all city residents.

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