Tienen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Tienen’s old train station will start repairs in early 2025 after the mayor stepped in. NMBS is looking for a buyer by September, if no one buys it, they will renovate it themselves. The nearby old post office will be turned into 18 student rooms.
The train station in Tienen is ancient but has been falling apart because the railway company, NMBS, hasn’t taken care of it. Last year, city leaders asked NMBS to fix it, and in May, the mayor had to get help to make them start repairs since the building was about to collapse. Now, NMBS has permission to fix the roof and outside of the station, and they also want to build a temporary station nearby so that trains can keep running while the work is done.
Will Tienen’s historic train station get the repairs it needs by 2025?
The mayor is glad that the repairs for the Tienen train station are finally happening. He mentioned that all the necessary permits are ready, and the work is set to start in early 2025. NMBS is still looking for someone to buy the building and fix it up until the end of September. If they don’t find a buyer, they will continue the repairs themselves. The station is protected as a heritage site, so the Agency for Heritage is also involved and has given advice on the project. A company specializing in heritage buildings has created a renovation plan.
The ticket office will return to the train station once it’s restored, but the future of the surrounding buildings depends on whether a buyer steps forward. If NMBS keeps the buildings, the city plans to discuss their use. It has been said that two youth groups, ‘Pand 10’ and ‘Halte 33’, are active in the area, and it would be nice if they could remain. A bicycle repair workshop is also set to start nearby, and a shop or coffee place would be welcomed. The old post office building next to the station is in disrepair, but a permit has been approved to convert it into 18 student rooms.
