After the first test runs in the area around the future depot which took place on 23 October last year, the time had finally come yesterday, 20 August 2024: the first tram reached the city centre under its own power – 60 years after the closure of the former lines 1 and 4 at the same location.
The new tram immediately attracted a great deal of public interest – and hopefully this will remain the case when the first 11.7 km line from Coronmeuse to Sclessin opens in spring 2025. Until then, there is still a lot of work to be done before the 20 new lifts can start scheduled operation. Spanish manufacturer CAF supplied the seven-section low-floor tramcars, which are 2.65 metres wide and 45.4 metres long. They offer capacity for 310 passengers, 58 of whom are seated. The first vehicle arrived in Liège two years ago, as we reported here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/liege-die-erste-bahn-ist-eingetroffen/ .
The trams will serve 23 stops on its first route, with a frequency of 4 ½ minutes during peak hours. Extensions at both ends, 3.2 kilometres in the direction of Herstal and 2.6 kilometres in the direction of Seraing, have already reached concrete planning stages, however, the necessary funding has not yet been secured.
