3,000 bus stops in Flanders to be slashed as part of 'basic accessibility' plan
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn will take a new step in the implementation of its Basic Accessibility plan in early 2024 by concentrating buses on high-demand routes. The De Lijn network will still have around 16,400 stops, a reduction of 3,000 stops or 17 per cent.
On 6 January, the second phase of the accessibility plan will be implemented. By then, 89 per cent of the new network will be in place, Flemish minister for Mobility Lydia Peeters of liberals Open VLD and De Lijn director general Ann Schoubs announced on Tuesday.
Basic Accessibility is a new public transport system that works with layers. The backbone is the rail network. This is followed by the core network: buses and trams that connect large residential and commercial areas and hospitals. Buses between smaller towns and villages form a supplementary network. Beyond that is the "flex-net", where buses only run when needed.
'Using resources where they are needed'
"We will be much more responsive to demand, using resources efficiently where they are needed," says Schoubs. Lines with high demand, such as those between cities, business centres and hospitals, will be strengthened, while some lines with lower demand may disappear.
A large number of bus stops will also disappear. Of the nearly 20,000 stops currently in use, 16,392 will remain after 6 January.
One in four of the remaining stops will be used as "flex stops", which will only be served when a local resident requests it. This will be done by "flex transport", the successor to the existing on-call buses.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO CHARLOTTE GEKIERE
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