Renovation works at the long-abandoned NMBS / SNCB Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station will start at the beginning of the spring half-term holiday on Monday 16 February, Gazet van Antwerpen reports. The station is being prepared as a temporary mobility hub ahead of major renovation works to Antwerp’s premetro tunnel, scheduled to begin in May. Rail passengers will face temporary timetable changes during the initial construction phase.

Infrastructure manager Infrabel will impose a full five-day line closure on line 59, between Antwerp-Berchem and Ghent-Dampoort, from 16 to 20 February 2026. During this period, no trains will run on the route while track and overhead line works are carried out.

The closure will also be used to accelerate the refurbishment of Linkeroever station, which is currently in a derelict and overgrown state. The station is expected to play a key role once tram services between the two banks of the Scheldt are suspended during the premetro tunnel renovation.

Major works include rebuilding the heavily damaged staircases leading to the platforms, renovating the platforms themselves and constructing a new bicycle parking facility for commuters.

Preparatory works are already under way on Katwilgweg near the Mediahuis offices, where utility lines are being relocated. A new cycle path will later connect the station directly to Blancefloerlaan.

Replacement buses and reduced rail services

During the school holiday week, replacement buses will operate between Antwerp-Berchem and Melsele. These buses will also call at the Zwijndrecht-Dorp tram stop, allowing passengers to transfer to tram line 3 towards Antwerp-Central Railway Station with their train ticket.

After the holiday period ends on Friday 22 February, trains are expected to resume their normal timetable, although works at Linkeroever station will continue without further rail disruption.

The station is scheduled to become fully operational in the second half of April. During the premetro closure, two trains per hour in each direction will serve Linkeroever on weekdays, with a reduced frequency of one train per hour at weekends.

Premetro tunnel closed for at least eight months

Renovation of the premetro tunnel between Linkeroever and the Opera and Central Station stops will start in May and is expected to last at least until the end of the year. Tram services on this route will be suspended throughout the works.

To maintain connectivity, shuttle buses will run between P+R Linkeroever and the city centre via the Waasland Tunnel, which is due to reopen at the end of February. Additional buses will operate via the Kennedy Tunnel, while the ferry between Steenplein and Linkeroever will also be used to handle commuter flows. Detailed bus timetables and routes have yet to be announced.

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