Brussels Metro

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Brussels Metro
Brussels Metro train (M6 "Boa" series) at Erasme/Erasmus metro station
Overview
Native name	Métro de Bruxelles (French) Brusselse metro (Dutch)
Locale	Brussels-Capital Region
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	4 metro lines (M1, M2, M5, M6)[1] 3 premetro lines (T3, T4, T7)
Number of stations	59 (metro only) 69[1] (with premetro)
Annual ridership	129.2 million (2022)[2]
Website	STIB/MIVB
Operation
Began operation	20 September 1976; 47 years ago (1976-09-20)[3]
Operator(s)	STIB/MIVB
Number of vehicles	66[4]
Technical
System length	39.9 km (24.8 mi) (metro only)[1] 55.7 km (34.6 mi) (with premetro)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	900 V DC third rail
System map

The Brussels Metro (French: Métro de Bruxelles, Dutch: Brusselse metro) is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of four conventional metro lines and three premetro lines. The metro-grade lines are M1, M2, M5, and M6^[1] with some shared sections, covering a total of 39.9 kilometres (24.8 mi),^[1] with 59 metro-only stations. The premetro network consists of three tram lines (T3, T4, and T7) that partly travel over underground sections that were intended to be eventually converted into metro lines.^[5] Underground stations in the premetro network use the same design as metro stations. A few short underground tramway sections exist, so there is a total of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi) of underground metro and tram network.^[1] There are a total of 69 metro and premetro stations as of 2011.^[1]

Most of the common section of the first two metro lines (between De Brouckère metro station and Schuman metro station) was inaugurated on 17 December 1969 as premetro tramways,^[6] converted in 1976 to the first two metro lines, then considered as one line with two branches, between De Brouckère and Tomberg and De Brouckère and Beaulieu.^[3] The Brussels Metro is administered by the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB/MIVB). In 2011, it was used for 125.8 million journeys,^[7] and it was used for 138.3 million journeys in 2012.^[8] It is also an important means of transport, connecting with six railway stations of the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), and many tram and bus stops operated by STIB/MIVB, and with Flemish De Lijn and Walloon TEC bus stops.

On 22 March 2016, Maelbeek metro station was bombed, killing about 20 people and injuring 106. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility.