Coast Tram (Belgium)

Coast Tram
Kusttram
De Lijn Vicinal Tramways
Map of the route
Operation
Locale Belgian coastal towns from Knokke-Heist to de Panne.
Open 1885
Status In Service
Owner(s) De Lijn
Infrastructure
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification 600V DC
Depot(s) Adinkerke, De Panne, Nieuwpoortsesteenweg, Oostende, Knokke-Heist
Stock HermeLijn
Statistics
Route length 68 km (42.25 mi)
Website De Kusttram
Belgian Coast Tram
Knokke Station
Duinbergen Watertoren
 Duinbergen
 Heist Heldenplein
 Heist Dijk
 Zeebrugge Zeesluis
Bridges over Pierre Vandamme lock
Zeebrugge Kerk
Bridges over Visart lock
Zeebrugge Vaart
 Zeebrugge Strandwijk
 Keerlus Duinse Polders
 Blankenberge Duinse Polders
 Blankenberge Sealife-Floreal
 Blankenberge Pier
 Blankenberge Station
 Blankenberge Markt
Keerdriehoek Harendijke
 Wenduine Harendijke
 Wenduine Manitoba
 Wenduine Centrum
 Wenduine Molen
 Wenduine Konijnenpad
 Keerlus Zwarte Kiezel
 De Haan Zwarte Kiezel
 De Haan Waterkasteellaan
 De Haan aan Zee
 De Haan Preventorium
 De Haan Vosseslag
 Bredene Renbaan
 Bredene Campings
 Bredene aan Zee
 Oostende Duin en Zee
 Oostende Weg naar Vismijn
Bridges over lock to Vlotdok
Oostende Station
 Oostende Marie-Joséplein
 Oostende Koninginnelaan
Keerdriehoek Sportstraat
 Oostende Renbaan
 Oostende Northlaan
 Mariakerke Bad
 Oostende Ravelingen
 Oostende Raversijde
 Raversijde Domein Raversijde
 Middelkerke De Greefplein
 Middelkerke Casino
 Middelkerke Verhaeghelaan
 Middelkerke Krokodiel
 Westende Belle Vue
Westende Bad
Westende Sint-Laureins
 Lombardsijde Bad
 Lombardsijde Dorp
 Lombardsijde YMCA
 Nieuwpoort Stad
 Nieuwpoort Cardijnlaan
 Nieuwpoort Ysermonde
 Nieuwpoort Bad
 Nieuwpoort Zonnebloem
Keerdriehoek Zonnebloem
 Oostduinkerke Groenendijk Bad
 Oostduinkerke Duinpark
 Oostduinkerke Bad
 Oostduinkerke Schipgat
 Koksijde Lejeunelaan
 Koksijde Bad
 Koksijde Ster der Zee
 Koksijde Sint-Idesbald
 De Panne Golfstraat
 De Panne Centrum
 De Panne Esplanade
Keerdriehoek DP terminus
 De Panne Kerk
 De Panne Moeder Lambic
 De Panne Plopsaland
Keerlus Adinkerke
Adinkerke depot
De Panne Station

The Coast Tram (Dutch: Kusttram) is a public transport service connecting the cities and towns along the entire Belgian (West Flanders) coast, between De Panne near the French border and Knokke-Heist. At 68 km (42 miles) in length, it is the longest tram line in the world,[1] as well as one of the few interurban tramways in the world to remain in operation. The line is built at 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge and fully electrified at 600 V DC.

History

The first section of the line between Oostende and Nieuwpoort was opened in 1885, although the original route was further inland than the modern one and only short sections of the original section in Oostende and Nieuwpoort centres are still in operation. On its creation, the line was managed by the NMVB (Nationale Maatschappij van Buurtspoorwegen), that operated an interurban tram system throughout Belgium. In 1991, the NMVB/SNCV was broken into two regional companies, one Walloon and the other Flemish, with the Flemish successor company, Vlaamse Vervoermaatschappij De Lijn taking responsibility for operation of the coastal tram.

Characteristics

The Belgian Coast Tram near Ostend

The service makes 69 stops along the 68 km line, with a tram running every 10 min during the peak summer months (every 20 min in the winter months), and it is used by over 3 million passengers. The service has recently been made more accessible by new low-floor centre sections to existing vehicles and a few new HermeLijn low-floor trams.

While most of the older trams are unidirectional and so have to be turned on a loop in order to reverse direction, the newer ones are bidirectional, with driving positions and doors on both end/sides.

An interesting feature is the two alternative routes that exist around both ends of the Leopoldkanaal locks, just east of Zeebrugge, and the similar single track diversion around the inland end of the Boudewijnkanaal lock. That avoids delays when the road bridge that the tram line normally follows is raised for boats passing under it. There is a similar feature at the southern end of Ostend station around the lock entrance to the Vlotdok.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Facts & Figures". Yarra Trams. Retrieved 16 April 2013.

Coordinates: 51°15′54″N 3°00′20″E / 51.26495°N 3.00544°E / 51.26495; 3.00544

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