Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – During a fight on a De Lijn tram at the Left Bank in Antwerp, one person received injuries, and the police arrested a suspect. The tram service faced temporary disruption because of the incident.
The De Lijn tram on the Left Bank in Antwerp experienced a fight, resulting in one person getting hurt and authorities arresting one suspect. The commotion resulted in momentary tram delays, which impacted various tram routes and produced extensive congestion.
The tram 3 near Halewijn station on Blancefloerlaan experienced the altercation at 7:30 PM the previous evening. One traveller among the group started a physical confrontation that involved several other commuters. The police presence resulted in the military arrest of one person. Medical responders treated the injured person but did not specify the nature of their medical condition. The altercation created delays, which affected multiple tram lines, including 3, 5, 9 and 15, throughout the network.
What is the history of tram safety and usage in Antwerp?
The network of tram lines operated by De Lijn in Antwerp brings daily passenger numbers exceeding 300,000 while connecting residents through a 100-kilometre-long system with 14 different lines. The network extends across 100 kilometers, while Line 3 represents one of its most active routes that serves the Left Bank (Linkeroever) along with the city center.
Halewijn station stands out as a main transit point in Left Bank because it serves extensive commuter traffic in the area. Public transport-related violence occurs seldom, but it triggers debates about traveller protection and service security improvements.
De Lijn has taken recent steps to improve passenger safety through enhanced surveillance and added staff members as part of their safety initiatives. The trams operating in Antwerp carry more than 100 million passengers each year, according to 2022 statistics, which demonstrates their central role in urban transport.
