Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Ringtrambus between Jette UZ and Zaventem airport will operate at a faster speed after completion. The Ringtrambus acquired its own dedicated bus pathway after construction in Vilvoorde’s downtown sector.
The Ringtrambus between UZ Brussels Jette and Zaventem Airport travels at a quicker pace because Vilvoorde enhanced its infrastructure. VRT reported that the implementation of separate bus lanes now stretches for 3.5 kilometres across Heldenplein, Stationlei and Europabrug in key areas. New infrastructure improvements seek to shorten travel time within public transport networks while attracting new riders who opt for public transport, thus reducing overall traffic on the Brussels Ring. The bus route takes the same path as bus line 820 by travelling from Grimbergen through Vilvoorde until it reaches Brussels Airport.
“The Ringtrambus looks like a tram, but it runs on regular roads and can carry more passengers,”
says Marco Demerling, spokesperson for De Lijn.
“We want to convince as many people as possible to leave their cars at home and opt for public transport. With the Ringtrambus, we offer a comfortable and smooth alternative to the Brussels ring.”
The Ringtrambus will implement its final operating route in 2027 when it moves to serve Diegem instead of Machelen. A tunnel project beneath the Brussels ring road at Woluwelaan continues its construction to enable this transit alteration.
After completion, the final route will contain 8.5 kilometres of bus lanes that operate in both travel directions to provide additional operational efficiency. Current bus station improvements at Heldenplein, combined with traffic optimisation in Vilvoorde, represent a key part of passenger-centric upgrades.
What is the history of public transport improvements in Brussels?
Authorities in Brussels faced persistent traffic congestion problems, which led them to develop different transportation solutions. Under “Brabantnet” the main goal was to develop Ringtrambus through the “Brabantnet” initiative, which operates within Flanders and Brussels.
The population had attempted to decrease car reliance by extending tram lines and implementing high-frequency bus routes in the past. Improving traffic conditions on the essential yet heavily congested Brussels Ring (R0) remains the primary task for which the Ringtrambus system was designed.
Public transport development in Vilvoorde has expanded progressively during the past few years.
