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Coast Tram

(Redirected from Coast Tram (Belgium))

The Coast Tram (Dutch: Kusttram) is a light rail service connecting the cities and towns along the Belgian (West Flanders) coast between De Panne, near the French border, and Knokke-Heist, near the Dutch border. At 67 kilometres (42 mi) in length,[2] it is currently the world's longest metre gauge tram line,[3] and the second-longest light rail service in the world after the A Line of the Los Angeles Metro Rail system,[4] as well as one of the few interurban tramways in the world to remain in operation. The line is fully electrified at 600 V DC.

Coast Tram
Logo of De LijnWhite KT letters on red background
See caption
Map of the route
Overview
Native nameKusttram
StatusIn Service
OwnerDe Lijn
LocaleBelgian coastal towns from Knokke-Heist to De Panne.
Stations67[1]
Websitehttps://www.delijn.be/en/content/kusttram/ De Kusttram
Service
SystemDe Lijn, formerly National Company of Light Railways
Depot(s)Adinkerke, De Panne, Nieuwpoortsesteenweg, Ostend, Knokke-Heist
Rolling stock48 CAF Urbos Zeelijner[2]
History
Opened1885; 139 years ago (1885)
Technical
Line length67[2] km (42 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge[2]
ElectrificationOverhead line, 600 V DC[2]
Route map

Legend
 Knokke station
Duinbergen Watertoren
Duinbergen
Heist Heldenplein
Heist Dijk
Zeebrugge Zeesluis
Pierre Vandamme lock
Zeebrugge Kerk
Visart lock
Zeebrugge Vaart
Zeebrugge Strandwijk
Duinse Polders loop
 Blankenberge Duinse Polders
Blankenberge Sealife-Floreal
Blankenberge Pier
Blankenberge station
Blankenberge Markt
Harendijke wye
 Wenduine Harendijke
Wenduine Manitoba
Wenduine Centrum
Wenduine Molen
Wenduine Konijnenpad
Zwarte Kiezel loop
 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
lock to Vlotdok
Oostende station
Oostende Marie-Joséplein
Oostende Koninginnelaan
Sportstraat wye
to Nieuwpoortse Steenweg depot
 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 Zeelaan
Lombardsijde Schoolstraat
Nieuwpoort Stad
Nieuwpoort Cardijnlaan
Nieuwpoort Ysermonde
Nieuwpoort Bad
Nieuwpoort Zonnebloem
Zonnebloem wye
 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
DP wye (terminus)
to De Panne depot (museum)
 De Panne Kerk
De Panne Moeder Lambic
De Panne Plopsaland
Adinkerke loop
Adinkerke depot
 De Panne station

History

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What is now the coast line started out as part of the extensive Belgian Vicinal tramway, a network of interurban trams that once covered the entire nation. The first section of the coast line between Ostend and Nieuwpoort was opened in 1885. This original route was further inland than the modern one and only short parts of the original section in Ostend 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.

Route

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A CAF Urbos Zeelijner tram at Domein Raversijde

The service makes 67 stops[1] along the almost 67 km (42 mi) line, with a tram running every 10 min during the peak summer months (every 20 min in the winter months), and in 2016 was used by roughly 15 million passengers.[5]

Notable features are the sea-view between Ostend and Middelkerke, the tracks through the dunes at De Haan, the fast speed, the two alternative routes that exist around both ends of the Leopoldkanaal locks, and the similar single track diversion around the inland end of the Boudewijnkanaal lock.

The maximum speed is officially 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). This speed is common between the villages.

Rolling stock

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In 2021–22, 48 new CAF Urbos Zeelijner low-floor trams entered service to replace all the older BN series 6000, the last of which was withdrawn on 23 September 2023.[2] The series 6000 were similar to the Métro Léger de Charleroi LRV fleet and, to a lesser extent, the LRTA 1000 class of the Manila Light Rail Transit System yellow line. They were originally six-axle vehicles with two sections, but later extended with an extra low-floor centre section.[2] During the summers from 2006 to 2022 HermeLijn trams were loaned from Ghent and Antwerp tram networks (also operated by De Lijn) for use on the coast tram line. All trams, except the loaned HermeLijn from Ghent are unidirectional and have to be turned on a loop in order to reverse direction.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Coastal Tram". De Lijn. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Pulling, Neil (December 2023). "Systems Factfile No. 194, Kusttram, Belgium" (PDF). Tramways & Urban Transit. No. 1032. Light Rail Transit Association. pp. 482–486. ISSN 1460-8324. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Facts & Figures". Yarra Trams. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  4. ^ Morino, Douglas (23 June 2023). "L.A. Opens Its New Light-Rail Link". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. ^ "15 miljoen reizigers leveren Kusttram record op" [15 million passengers produce Coast Tram record] (in Dutch). VRT. 23 January 2017.
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