The premetro tunnel connecting Antwerp’s left and right banks will close for almost a year for extensive renovation works, starting on 4 May 2026 and lasting until at least mid-March 2027. During this period, no trams will run between the Park-and-Ride Melsele on Linkeroever (Left Bank) and the Astrid and Diamant premetro stations near Antwerp-Central Railway Station, cutting a key tram link under the River Scheldt.

The closure was announced last year and came as a major surprise. The tunnel’s condition has deteriorated to such an extent that postponing the works would pose a safety risk for passengers. 

Initial estimates suggested the renovation would take four months, later revised to seven months, but further complications, including asbestos-related issues, have extended the expected closure to around eleven months. Critics say the disruption is the result of years of mismanagement, neglect and repeated budget cuts.

I m p a c t 

The impact will be significant. Around 1,700 passengers use the Scheldt tram connection during peak hours, and an important link to the Groenplaats and the Meir shopping area will be lost. 

The works will be a major stress test for De Lijn, the Flemish public transport operator, which is already facing further budget cuts, service reductions and infrastructure problems across Antwerp’s tram network. 

Currently, only two tram lines are operating normally, with others shortened or running at reduced speeds for safety reasons.

Countermeasures

To maintain connections between the city’s two banks, De Lijn has prepared a package of mitigation measures. Shuttle buses will run via the J.F. Kennedy Tunnel between Park-and-Ride Linkeroever, Blancefloerlaan and Frederik van Eedenplein on the left bank and the Leien and Operaplein on the right bank. 

Small shuttle buses, with a capacity of up to 15 passengers, will operate every 20 minutes between Hof ter Schelde residential care centre and ZAS Cadix hospital via the Waasland Tunnel, which is currently being renovated to accommodate them.

Several bus lines will be strengthened with additional vehicles and an extra stop near the ferry. These include lines 82, 84, 85 and 821. Bus line 36 on Linkeroever will also stop near the ferry service and the temporary train station.

Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station

A temporary train station will be opened on Katwilgweg on Linkeroever. From there, two trains per hour will run towards Dendermonde (Termonde) or Ghent and towards Antwerp-South, Antwerp-Berchem and Antwerp-Central. 

The local passenger organisation TreinTramBus has described the measures for Linkeroever as the maximum feasible, although it considers two trains per hour at the temporary station to be limited.

Christmas shopping

During the year-end holiday period, De Lijn aims to open one tunnel tube temporarily so that a tram can run between Van Eeden and Groenplaats. This is intended to support local businesses during the busy festive shopping season. More details on measures to reduce disruption are expected later.

Tram services across the city will also be reorganised. Lines 3 and 15 will be merged into tram line A3, running between the Park-and-Ride sites in Merksem and Boechout. Lines 5 and 9 will be merged into tram line A9, operating between Wijnegem and Berchem Station. 

11

Tram line 11 will return to service from 4 May, providing a link between Antwerp-Central Railway Station and the historic city centre, although it will not be able to fully replace the capacity of the suspended Scheldt crossings.

The works are expected to be most disruptive for travel between the Meir and Linkeroever, as the under-Scheldt connection will be completely closed. 

Linkeroever neighbourhood

Linkeroever is home to more than 17,500 residents, in addition to thousands of people who work in the area, making the closure a major logistical challenge for the city.

The coming months will therefore serve as a crucial test for De Lijn’s ability to manage large-scale disruption and maintain mobility in Antwerp. The period between 4 May and the end of March 2027 will determine whether the transport operator can successfully cope with the strain, a challenge seen as vital for the functioning of the entire city.

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