Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The upcoming updates will render tram grasping from its outer surfaces more challenging. Annick De Ridder (N-VA), as Minister for Mobility, emphasised this statement during the Mobility Committee. Anti-tram surfing cases that occurred recently in Antwerp served as the subject of discussion at the meeting.
The Minister for Mobility, Annick De Ridder (N-VA), has decided to modify Antwerp trams as a solution against tram surfers who hang outside the vehicles. The minister denounced the dangerous action by labelling tram surfers as “halfwits” who endanger themselves along with passengers. These changes seek to discourage the activities because they became prominent through social media viral videos.
“The incident in Antwerp involved a tram of the HermeLijn type,”
De Ridder explains.
“The first vehicles of that type are having a kind of midlife crisis and need to be remedied in the short term.”
There will be adjustments to the trams, making it harder to hold onto them tram.
“Whether that means those half-wits will fall off faster, I don’t know. I just hope that they will find it harder to climb on,”
Says Minister De Ridder.
The minister strongly condemned tram surfing.
“I also saw the video where a lunatic is hanging from a moving tram, probably a stunt to get some extra likes on TikTok,”
Says De Ridder.
“That endangers everyone, not just the lunatic in question, but also passengers, tram driver and other road users. Imagine if he falls off the tram and you hit him. So it is strictly forbidden. It must also be tackled.”
In the committee, Wim Verheyden (Vlaams Belang) also wanted to know whether the Antwerp tram surfers had already been identified.
“We are awaiting the criminal investigation to take further steps, but you will understand that I find it difficult to comment on that at this stage of the investigation,”
Said Minister De Ridder.
What is the background and current status of the issue?
Antwerp faces ongoing issues with tram surfing because many residents risk their lives by riding on moving tram exterior surfaces. This month, De Lijn made a decision following the recording of a tram surfer on the Kiel route. The company has repeatedly condemned such actions, stating,
“This is dangerous for everyone and absolutely reprehensible behaviour.”
Minister De Ridder has described the active criminal investigation that seeks to identify people active in the tram surfing incidents. She avoided additional remarks about the case because the investigation remains active. The HermeLijn trams under renovation are the primary target of new safety improvements that will handle urgent risks alongside stopping tram surfing behaviour altogether.
