STIB Activity report 2025

Company

In addition to the day-to-day operation of the public transport system, the STIB is responsible for developing, maintaining and renewing its infrastructure and rolling stock. To carry out its projects, it relies on technical teams with a high level of expertise. The common goal is the continuous improvement of the network to make public transport the preferred choice for mobility in Brussels. New lines, new vehicles, innovative technologies and the sustainability of the infrastructure... The STIB works hard every day to offer a high-quality service and a sustainable alternative.

Transparency and financial responsibility

Download the financial report

Tram

Tram 10 celebrates its first anniversary

Line 10 now connects Neder-Over-Heembeek (NOH) directly to the city centre. Residents, workers, students and sports enthusiasts use it every day to reach this rapidly developing part of northern Brussels quickly and easily. The neighbourhood is experiencing strong population growth and is welcoming new schools and businesses, which reinforces the strategic importance of this line.

Tram

The evolving tram network

Tram 35 was launched in autumn 2024 as part of the overhaul of the tram service in northern Brussels, following the creation of the new tram line 10 in Neder-Over-Heembeek.

The main purpose of line 35 was to provide a link between Esplanade and Heembeek, thereby connecting with line 10. While the new line 10 was a great success, line 35 was underused. Its route was therefore changed to benefit line 62, which needed to be reinforced.

Trams on line 35 connect Esplanade to Schaerbeek station. This connection offers transfer options, particularly with tram 92 and trains on the S network. Shortening line 35 has made it possible to reassign high-capacity trams to line 62 (Heysel-Eurocontrol). The capacity of the line has increased by 15% and travellers benefit from more space and greater comfort, particularly along Boulevard Léopold III.

Tram

40 new trams in service

In 2018, the STIB signed a framework agreement allowing it to purchase up to 175 new trams. After an initial order for 60 vehicles, a second order for 30 additional trams followed in mid-2019. In total, the STIB has ordered 90 TNGs (New Generation Trams): 79 short trams (32 metres long, with 182 places, including 47 seats) and 11 long trams (43 metres long, with 256 places, including 65 seats).

Bus

56 new electric buses

Fifty-six eCitaro articulated electric buses have joined the STIB network. They have replaced the Euro 5 buses still in service. These articulated vehicles are recharged overnight at the depot, but also during the day on the network. By the end of 2025, they had already travelled 1,818,811 km in Brussels on lines 46, 53, 87 and 89.

Metro

36 new metro trains in service

With 36 M7 trains in service by the end of 2025, the STIB fleet continues to expand and modernise. A total of 43 trains have been ordered and are gradually being put into service since 2021.

Metro

CBTC signalling

As part of its metro network modernisation programme, the STIB is replacing the existing signalling system with CBTC (Communication Based Train Control). This new system will make it possible to safely reduce the interval between two metro trains, allowing for increased frequency. Ultimately, CBTC will enable automation. In order to reach this step, platform screen doors are required. The first one has been installed at the Delta depot for initial testing.

Platform screen doors

Platform screen doors are large glass walls installed along the edges of underground station platforms. Equipped with sliding doors that line up with the doors of the underground trains, they open simultaneously to allow travellers to board and alight. This system is essential for ensuring safety on automated networks. It also prevents trespassing on the tracks, a major cause of disruption on the metro network.

New switches

As key elements of the metro network, switches are essential for directing metro trains in the right direction, allowing them to turn around in the event of an interruption or to make up for delays on the line.

Metro 3

The Metro 3 project reached new milestones in 2025. The project involves three major construction sites:

In Albert, for the transformation of the pre-metro station into a large multimodal hub
Between South Station and Anneessens, for the construction of a new connecting tunnel and the Toots Thielemans metro station
At Gare du Nord, for the construction of the rear station, necessary for the metro train depot and the subsequent extension of the line to Schaerbeek and Haren

Palais du Midi

Most of the construction work on the Metro 3 connecting tunnels is being carried out in open air, using the ‘cut and cover’ technique. In practical terms, the walls and roof slab are first constructed from the surface. Then, the tunnel is completed underground by digging beneath this structure. This technique has been used along the entire length of the tunnel beneath public spaces.

Special commission Metro 3

In October 2025, the Court of Audit published its audit report on the Metro 3 project after more than two years of work. The STIB cooperated fully and transparently. Despite the complexity of the case and the age of some of the archives, it responded to all requests and sent more than 72,000 documents to the Court of Audit.

Renovation of stations

Central Station

Located in the historic heart of the capital, Central Station dates back to 1969 and is one of the oldest metro stations in Brussels. Its complete refurbishment aims to offer greater comfort to travellers. When completed, the station will be almost twice as large as it is today, more modern and fully accessible to people with reduced mobility, thanks in particular to the addition of lifts and escalators.

Parc

Started in 2020, renovation work on the public area of Parc station was completed in 2025. Travellers now benefit from an accessible station, thanks to four lifts and seven escalators, and a complete refurbishment from floor to ceiling: lighting, floor and wall coverings, ceilings, signage, technical equipment, etc.

Four stations “refreshed”

In addition to these major renovations, the ‘Refresh Station’ project aims to make concrete and rapid improvements to the customer experience. Brussels Mobility, which owns the metro and pre-metro stations, has launched a refurbishment of four stations in 2025:

Network maintenance

Royale & Régence

Saint-Job

South of Brussels

Network maintenance

Sainctelette

Tram tracks renewal

Adapting depots

Marly ||

Ixelles

Jacques Brel

Palais du Midi

Under the Palais du Midi, another method, jet grouting, was planned and was to be used to build 120 metres of tunnel under the building. The implementation of this technique encountered serious technical and geological challenges, requiring modifications that made its execution economically equivalent to the deconstruction and reconstruction of the interior volumes of the Palais du Midi.

This option, approved by the Brussels government in July 2023, allows the use of the ‘cut and cover’ method, which has been used successfully for the rest of the project. It also provides an opportunity to thoroughly renovate this public building and bring it up to current standards: asbestos removal, insulation, etc. Historical features, such as the façades, will be preserved and certain elements that have disappeared during the building's multiple renovations will be recreated. The planning permit was granted on 21 August 2025. On 18 December 2025, the Council of State suspended it pending a government decision on the classification of the building requested by two non-profit organisations.

Marly ||

Marly I was commissioned in 2019. Next to this depot in northern Brussels, a new storage and maintenance site is currently under construction. It will be the first depot dedicated entirely to the storage, recharging and maintenance of standard and articulated electric buses. The new articulated eCitaro buses have already taken up residence there. The new standard electric buses will arrive in Marly from early 2026.

By the end of 2025, approximately 47% of the planned work on the Marly II site in Neder- Over-Heembeek had been completed:

The structural work on the building
The recharging infrastructure
The new electrical substation that will supply power to the storage area in 2026
In the second half of 2026, the maintenance stands will be partially installed

The STIB is applying eco-construction principles for the construction of this depot and is aiming for BREEAM certification in accordance with strict specifications: rainwater recovery for bus washing and sanitary facilities, recycling of bus washing water, green roof, insulation exceeding legal requirements, photovoltaic panels, etc.

Ixelles

The Ixelles tram depot, located on Avenue de l'Hippodrome, dates back to the late 19^th century, when horse-drawn trams were still in use, before the network was electrified. Since early 2025, the building that houses the staff facilities has been undergoing renovation. The aim of this work is to make the building more modern and comfortable for staff and visitors.

During this renovation, the building will be equipped with a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, improved infrastructure, a more open structure, reinforced insulation and a modern, refreshed façade cladding. The changing rooms, sanitary facilities and other facilities will be completely renovated.

Jacques Brel

The work, which began in June 2022, was completed in 2025. Staff now benefit from a new pit for working under the trains, a training room, a canteen and a ventilation system.

The arrival of the new M7 metro trains required the reorganisation of vehicle storage and maintenance between the various metro depots. The new M7 trains are stored at the Delta depot. The Jacques Brel depot must therefore make room to accommodate the older Mx trains, known as the “orange trains”. This is an opportunity for the STIB to refurbish the entire depot (metro and bus sections), which celebrated its 20^th anniversary in 2025.

The lifting stand, used to raise a metro train for maintenance, has been replaced by a new model that can be adapted to all types of metros (Mx, M6 and M7). This new equipment reduces the number of train transfers from Brel to Delta for maintenance. It consists of 12 stands with 4 columns.

The evolving tram network

40 new trams in service

The first travellers boarded the short version of the TNG at the end of April 2023. By the end of 2025, 40 TNGs were running on lines 9, 19, 82 and 51. The first long TNG was delivered at the end of 2025 and will undergo testing before carrying its first passengers in the second quarter of 2026. In 2026, 18 additional TNGs are expected to join the STIB fleet. The arrival of these new vehicles will enable the gradual decommissioning of older, less accessible high-floor trams. The Avenue du Roi depot thus said goodbye to its last 7700-type PCC tram in 2025.

With the TRAMLAB project, the STIB is testing new technologies and equipment in real-life conditions. Once these innovations have been tested on board the lab tram, they are gradually rolled out across the entire fleet. Among them, ‘Eye In The Sky’ monitors the condition of power lines, while ‘Geocadi’ measures the distance between the tram and obstacles located along its sides. The next step is to install an automatic obstacle detection system at the front of the tram.

Royale & Régence

The renovation of Place Royale by Beliris (the federal fund for the development and renovation of Brussels) led to the closure of tram lines 92 and 93 on this major traffic artery. The STIB took advantage of this interruption to renew the tracks along Rue Royale and Rue de la Régence and install anti-vibration mats. The stops were redesigned to make them safer and more accessible to people with reduced mobility.

During the work carried out on Rue de la Régence, traces of an ancient cemetery were uncovered. More than 30 skeletons dating from the Middle Ages were discovered. These remains and bones came from the cemetery of Saint-Jean Hospital, which, between the 14th and 18th centuries, was the final resting place for the sick and the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Archaeologists from Urban, the public administration responsible for urban planning in Brussels, analysed these remains in an attempt to better understand daily life at the time.

Saint-Job

At the end of 2025, the inauguration of the new bridge on Avenue Jean et Pierre Carsoel, which spans the Schaerbeek-Hal railway line, marked the end of a major two-year construction project in the municipality of Uccle. The bridge's reconfiguration allows for smoother traffic flow for trains, trams, buses, cars, bicycles and pedestrians, while providing a more user-friendly environment that is better integrated into local life. This project is the result of close collaboration between Infrabel, SNCB, STIB, Bruxelles Mobilité and Beliris, in consultation with the municipality of Uccle, and co-financed with the help of the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EU's economic recovery plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A double curve has been replaced by a diagonal layout to allow easier passage for STIB trams and buses. Straight bus and tram stops accessible to people with reduced mobility have been created. In addition, 15 mosaics dedicated to sustainable mobility adorn the bridge. They were created by three 6th grade classes from the neighbourhood.

Uccle now has a strong intermodal hub designed to encourage sustainable travel. Every week, the Saint-Job stop welcomes nearly 20,000 train, tram and bus passengers. SNCB and the STIB users benefit from optimal connections between all modes of transport.

South of Brussels

From summer 2025 until the end of 2026, several major infrastructure projects are underway in the south of Brussels with the aim of improving quality of life and mobility, in particular by increasing comfort for pedestrians and improving the regularity and reliability of public transport. As tram lines 81, 82 and 97 are suspended for the duration of the works, a temporary bus line 96 has been put into service to provide an alternative solution.

Several projects have been grouped together in order to limit interruptions or diversions:

Avenue du Parc in Forest and Saint-Gilles: renewal of the sewerage network by VIVAQUA, in preparation for the redevelopment of Avenue du Parc and Barrière by Bruxelles Mobilité.
Rue Moris and Rue Antoine Bréart in Saint-Gilles: renewal of underground networks, replacement of old tram tracks with new tracks equipped with anti-vibration mats and redevelopment of public spaces to facilitate tram traffic.
Rue du Bailli in the City of Brussels: renovation of the sewer network by VIVAQUA, followed by the renewal of tram tracks by the STIB and the reconstruction of pavements by Brussels Mobility.

Other works took place in Forest and Uccle:

Chaussée de Bruxelles in Forest: dismantling of the temporary terminus of tram 82 and renewal of tram tracks.
Chaussée de Neerstalle in Forest and Uccle: final phases of track renewal along this axis. Thanks to a new dedicated lane approaching the Stalle crossroads, tram 82 will benefit from improved regularity when it resumes service to Stalle, as planned in 2026.

Tram tracks renewal

As part of the regular maintenance of its network, the STIB has a multi-year track renovation plan that plans the replacement of several kilometres of rails each year, depending on their degree of wear. In this context, several projects began and/or were completed in 2025:

Avenue de la Reine: on lines 10, between Rue du Progrès and Square Jules de Trooz, utility works, track renewal and merger of the De Trooz and Masui stops.
Between the Tram Museum and Tervuren: modernisation of line 44, with 7 km of line refurbished and the renovation of the Trois Couleurs, Auderghem Forêt and Ravenstein stops.
Rues Edouard Stuckens and Henri Van Hamme in Evere: on the route of line 55, replacement of the sewerage network by VIVAQUA, followed by the renewal of 1.1 km of tram tracks and the installation of anti-vibration mats by the STIB.

Sainctelette

Brussels Mobility is carrying out work on the Sainctelette bridge to improve comfort and safety for all users. The project aims to create a “bridge square”, where space will be better distributed between pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and cars.

As part of this project, tram line 51 has been suspended since August 2025. The STIB is taking advantage of the relocation of the tracks to replace them, installing anti-vibration mats for the comfort of local residents.

The new layout will also facilitate connections between the tram, bus and metro at Yser. The tram stops will be redesigned and brought up to accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility, enabling them to board trams and buses independently.

Tram 10 celebrates its first anniversary

Tram 10 recorded a total of 15.5 million journeys across its entire route in 2025, making it the busiest tram line in the network. This success can be explained by the new service to Neder-Over-Heembeek and the merger with line 3, via the pre-metro and the stations Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi.

Line 10 at a glance:

Groundbreaking in January 2023
Passenger service to begin in September 2024
15 km long, including 5 km for the new section located in NOH
240,000 m² of redeveloped public spaces (new garden, pavements, public lighting, etc.)
More than 400 trees planted
Rainwater management (landscaped swales, permeable materials, etc.)
All new stops on the line located in NOH, including two new transport hubs at Heembeek and the Military Hospital, accessible to people with reduced mobility

56 new electric buses

With the first electric buses arriving in 2018 and 2019 (7 Solaris minibuses, 5 Bluebus standard buses and 25 Solaris articulated buses) and the 56 eCitaro articulated buses put into service in 2025, the STIB already had 93 electric buses in circulation at the end of the year. Their share of the fleet has thus increased from 4% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. By the end of 2026, the fleet will be further strengthened by 14 electric articulated buses and 36 electric standard buses as part of the order placed in 2023 with Mercedes-Daimler.

The first standard 12-metre-long eCitaro arrived in Brussels in December. It is scheduled to enter service in early March. A new contract is being prepared to replace the next series of buses that will reach the end of their service life. The specifications were published at the end of December. The STIB is now awaiting bids from tenderers. This contract will enable the ordering of up to 300 standard electric buses.

At the same time, the STIB is adapting its infrastructure to prepare its network for full electrification, scheduled for 2035. Its depots are gradually being converted, with Marly as the first 100% electric depot, and the terminus equipped to enable rapid ‘opportunity charging’ of articulated buses. Seven terminus are equipped with a total of 16 rapid charging masts. In addition to the existing facilities at Porte de Namur and the Haren, Marly and Brel depots, the Pannenhuis (2 chargers), Westland (4 chargers) and Moortebeek (2 chargers) terminals have been added. In 2026, there are plans to equip Simonis (3 chargers) and Central Station (Loxum, 2 chargers).

36 new metro trains in service

The M7 trains are equipped with an automatic door opening system, new multi- purpose spaces for people with reduced mobility, pushchairs and bicycles, large information screens, coloured LED lighting above the doors, level flooring with the platforms, and more. All this provides even greater comfort and accessibility for travellers.

The arrival of these new trains has freed up M6 trains, which have been deployed on lines 2 and 6. This is good news for the many travellers on these lines, who now benefit from more spacious, modern and comfortable vehicles.

CBTC signalling

The installation work for the new signalling system is being carried out with as little impact as possible on metro traffic. To speed up the process, the STIB has organised a series of “long nights”, during which the metros stop running earlier or start later, in order to give the technical teams more effective working time. This organisation made it possible to finalise the installation of the new signalling system on the branch to Erasme and to speed up installation on the branches to Stockel and Herrmann-Debroux. Once the CBTC has been installed, a series of tests are necessary to validate the functioning of the installations and systems.

CBTC goes hand in hand with a new real-time management software, ATS, managed from the dispatching centre. Metro trains must also be equipped with CBTC on-board systems to communicate with the signalling system. The M7 trains delivered are equipped as standard; nine M6 trains were equipped in 2025.

Platform screen doors

In the spring, an initial prototype platform screen door was delivered and installed on the test track at the Delta depot. A series of tests must now be carried out before the platform screen doors can be tested in real-life conditions.

The initial tests focused on platform screen doors and resulted in several adjustments. The next step involves testing with an M7 metro train and the new CBTC signalling system. The new system also requires the development of various interfaces and systems to ensure its management, security and integration with the signalling system.

New switches

In 2025, the STIB carried out three interruptions to replace its switches or install new ones, mainly during long weekends or school holidays, in order to limit the impact on travellers. The switches concerned are located at Bockstael, between Bizet and Saint-Guidon, and at Elisabeth.

The Bockstael switch dated back to 1982, when the station was opened. It has been replaced by a more modern and resistant model. Between Bizet and Saint-Guidon, three switches were replaced, also dating from when these stations were commissioned between 1982 and 1985. Between Ribaucourt and Elisabeth stations, the installation of an additional switch has improved traffic management on the metro lines.

Special commission Metro 3

Following the Court of Audit's report, the Brussels Parliament set up a special commission dedicated to Metro 3. This commission is organising hearings with the various parties involved in the project — STIB, Beliris, former ministers, consultancy firms, etc. — in order to analyse the course of this major project and draw useful lessons from it. The first hearings highlighted the importance of this new line in meeting the mobility challenges on this major axis in Brussels. Several speakers also provided clarification on certain factual elements included in the report. The schedule of hearings follows the structure of the report and began with the genesis of the project: the opportunity for the metro, the routes studied, budget estimates, etc. The commission's work will continue in 2026.

Metro 3

At Albert, 500 m² have been refurbished, representing around a third of level -1. Travellers can now enjoy new facilities, new lighting and new finishes. Travellers can once again access the station from Avenue Besme, where they can use a new escalator and a new lift connecting the surface to level -1. On level -2, a 400-metre section has been equipped with tracks and is ready for connection to the North-Albert axis. Ultimately, level -2 is planned to house the metro terminus with level -1 housing terminus facilites for several tram lines.

Between Gare du Midi and Anneessens, most of the engineering work has been completed. The structure of the new metro station, Toots Thielemans, is clearly visible. Three civil engineering structures remain to be built: 120 metres of tunnel under the Palais du Midi, the passage under the existing tram tunnel and the connection of the newly built tunnel to the existing facilities under Place Bara.

At North Station, the project is being supervised by Beliris, the STIB's delegated project manager. It was at a standstill, awaiting a government decision on the solution proposed by the contractor to resolve the issues related to the presence of a perched aquifer. In February 2026, the government announced the suspension of the North Station project in its Regional Policy Statement.

Central Station

New underground spaces have been dug beneath Ravenstein, Cantersteen, Cardinal Mercier and Paroissien streets. In the Ravenstein area, the technical facilities have been largely completed. Beneath Cardinal Mercier Street, the structural elements and earthworks have been completed. Under Rue Paroissien, the new lift shaft connecting the mezzanine to the platform towards De Brouckère has been installed. On 25 May 2025, the public was able to discover these transformations during the Open Construction Sites Day.

In 2026, the second part of the extension needed to install the staircase between the mezzanine and the platform towards De Brouckère will be carried out under Rue des Colonies. The pedestrian corridor connecting the metro station to the SNCB station will be moved to allow for the installation of new finishes in the Ravenstein area. Finishing work will also continue on the platforms. Masonry work will continue in the Cardinal Mercier area. Finally, the construction of the floor of the smoke extraction room above the metro tracks will be one of the major challenges of the year.

Parc

A new work of art, ‘Mers et Océans’ (Seas and Oceans) by Marie-Françoise Plissart, adorns the station walls. The work was completed in the autumn with the installation of signage and tactile paving slabs for the visually impaired.

To improve travellers' comfort, a new automatic public toilet will be put into service in 2026. The project is now entering a more discreet phase dedicated to the development of the technical facilities. The final stage of the work involves the creation of a new access point via Brussels Park between 2027 and 2030.

Four stations “refreshed”

Diamant: replacement of four escalators, installation of additional access gates for improved flow, repair and renewal of wall coverings, integration of tactile paving for the blind and visually impaired, adaptation of signage, renewal of lighting and thorough cleaning.
Osseghem: improvement of lighting, renewal of fire detection, adaptation of signage, repair of floor and wall coverings, installation of new tactile guidance... but also the installation of Sarah Vanagt's work ‘Viser les étoiles’ (Aim for the stars), inspired by the visual of marbles.
Stockel: renovation of access points, replacement of tiles (floor and walls), replacement of information panels, updating of the guidance system for blind and visually impaired people, thorough cleaning of the artwork Tintin in the metro.
Maelbeek: replacement of two lifts, reconfiguration and optimisation of the access gates on the Chaussée d'Etterbeek side, installation of wall tiles in the access areas and restoration of the Rue de la Loi access, creation of niches for services (photo booth, various vending machines) and relocation of various equipment to optimise space, updating of signage, compliance with universal accessibility standards (podotactile system, double handrails, contrasting flooring for the first and last steps, etc.).

Work on the Diamant, Stockel and Osseghem stations was completed at the end of 2025. The ‘Refresh’ programme will continue in 2026 with the Delta (March) and Herrmann-Debroux (September) stations. Among other things, Brussels Mobility plans to replace the escalators and renew the signage, lighting and floor and wall coverings.