Since the reopening Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station on 2 May 2026, an average of 530 people have been boarding trains there on weekdays. Most of these travellers are heading towards Antwerp-Central Railway Station, Gazet van Antwerpen reports. 

As there are powers that be that would love to make this temporary reopening permanent, user statistics are very important. The reopening wasn’t a popular idea with train operator NMBS / SNCB and infrastructure manager Infrabel, but politicians on municipal (Antwerp), regional (Flanders) and federal (Belgium) pushed for it. Even Belgian Prime Minister and titular Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever (N-VA) influenced proceedings. 

Dimitri Temmerman, spokesperson for the NMBS / SNCB, told the newspaper that the train is especially a good alternative for people commuting between the left and right banks of the River Scheldt.

Accessibility during premetro tunnel renovation

The premetro tunnel under the Scheldt, extending to the Operaplein, has been closed since Monday 4 May, for a thorough renovation. The reopening of the NMBS / SNCB station at Linkeroever (Left Bank) on Katwilgweg is one of the measures to ensure that both banks of the Scheldt remain accessible by public transport.

On weekdays, an average of 530 people take the train at this station, while on weekends, the number drops to around 200. Temmerman noted that, since the first day of the premetro closure, the number of travellers at Linkeroever has been high, indicating that the train is a viable alternative for many.

De Lijn subscribers benefit

Up to 70% of the train travellers at this station on a weekday use the free train subscription they applied for through De Lijn. Temmerman clarified that these are primarily travellers who would normally use the tram between the left and right banks.

De Lijn subscribers who met the requirements could apply for a free subscription for the route between Antwerp and Beveren until the end of May. So far, 20,000 people have done so.

Many of the travellers boarding or alighting at Antwerp-Linkeroever station use bus line 36, which stops at the station and serves large parts of Linkeroever.

Increased ridership in Zwijndrecht and Beveren

At other stations, such as Zwijndrecht and Beveren in East Flanders, the NMBS / SNCB has observed an increase in train travellers since the start of the premetro tunnel works. Temmerman stated that, while specific figures for these stations are not yet available, there is no doubt that more people are using the trains there.

The NMBS / SNCB is also laying on extra trains to Antwerp-Linkeroever station for the Live is Live festival, which will take place at the Middenvijver on Linkeroever at the end of June. On ‘regular’ weekdays, two trains per hour stop at Linkeroever. On Saturday and Sunday, one. 

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