Belgium: Trams in Ghent

The Ghent tramway network is part of the public transport system in the city of Ghent, Belgium, with a total of three lines (1, 21/22 and 4). Since 1991, it has been operated by De Lijn, the public transport entity responsible for buses and trams in Flanders.

As of the end of 2008, there were 40 HermeLijn trams and 43 PCC trams, running on three routes.

Photograph By: Maksim

General description

The network covers approximately 30 kilometers. The rail gauge is 1000 mm and trams are powered by 600V DC overhead wires. The network uses dedicated rights of way as well as mixed traffic; the right of way on Groot-Britanniëlaan is shared with by buses.

The system used to have one short tunnel, around 150 meters long, passing underneath Sint-Pieters railway station.The Sint-Pieters Station tram stop was located inside the tunnel. It was opened on June 28, 1996.

The system has no triangles and only a single turnback loop. Therefore, all rolling-stock must be bidirectional, with cabs at each end. There are also two non-switch 90-degree crossings, between the lines of routes 1 and 21/22, on the crossing of Zonnestraat with Veldstraat as well as Korte Meers street. There are two crossings because the track of route 1 passes over streets in each direction. Along the Korte Meer the tram track goes toward the city center, the Korenmarkt stop, yet returns along the pedestrian/tram-only shopping area along the Veldstraat.

On streets where tram tracks are located away from the sidewalk, i.e. in the middle of the roadway, stops are located on islands with pedestrian overpasses leading to them. This improves pedestrian safety.