Coast Tram (Belgium)
| Belgian Coast Tram |
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Legend
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Knokke NMBS |
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Knokke Watertoren |
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Heist Duinbergen |
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Heist Heldenplein |
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Heist Dijk |
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Zeebrugge Zeesluis |
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Bridges over Zeebrugge waterway |
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Zeebrugge Kerk |
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Straussbrug |
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Zeebrugge Vaart |
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Zeebrugge Strandwijk |
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Keerlus Duinse polders |
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Blankenberge Duinse polders |
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Blankenberge Sealife-Floreal |
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Blankenberge Pier |
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Blankenberge Station NMBS |
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Blankenberge Park |
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Keerlus Harendijke |
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Wenduine Harendijke |
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Wenduine Manitoba |
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Wenduine Centrum |
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Wenduine Molen |
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Wenduine Sunparks |
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Keerlus Zwarte Kiezel |
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De Haan Zwarte Kiezel |
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De Haan Zeepreventorium |
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De Haan Vosseslag |
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Bredene Renbaan |
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Bredene Campings |
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Bredene aan Zee |
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Oostende Duin en Zee |
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Oostende Weg op Vismijn |
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Bridges over lock to Vlotdok |
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Oostende Station NMBS |
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Oostende Marie-Joseplein |
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Oostende Koninginnelaan |
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Keerdriehoek Sportstraat |
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Oostende Renbaan |
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Oostende Mediacenter |
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Oostende Mariakerke Bad |
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Oostende Ravelingen |
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Oostende Raversijde |
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Oostende Domein Raversijde |
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Middelkerke Degreefplein |
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Middelkerke Casino |
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Middelkerke Krokodiel |
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Middelkerke Harendijke |
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Westende-Lombardsijde Belle Vue |
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Westende-Lombardsijde Westende Bad |
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Westende-Lombardsijde St. Laureins |
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Westende-Lombardsijde Lombardsijde Bad |
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Westende-Lombardsijde Dorp |
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Westende-Lombardsijde YMCA |
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Nieuwpoort Nieuwpoort Stad |
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Nieuwpoort Cardijnlaan |
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Nieuwpoort Ysermonde |
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Nieuwpoort Nieuwpoort Bad |
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Nieuwpoort Kerk |
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Keerdriehoek Zonnebloem |
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Nieuwpoort Zonnebloem |
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Oostduinkerke Groenendijk Bad |
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Oostduinkerke Duinpark |
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Oostduinkerke Oostduinkerke Bad |
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Oostduinkerke Schipgat |
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Koksijde Lejeunelaan |
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Koksijde Koksijde Bad |
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Koksijde Ster aan Zee |
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Koksijde St. Idesbald |
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De Panne Golfstraat |
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De Panne Centrum |
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De Panne Esplanade |
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Keerdriehoek DP terminus |
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De Panne Kerk |
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De Panne Moeder Lambic |
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De Panne Plopsaland |
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Keerlus Adinkerke |
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Adinkerke depot |
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Adinkerke NMBS |
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The Coast Tram (Dutch: De Kusttram) is a public transport service connecting the cities and towns along the entire Belgian (West Flanders) coast, between De Panne near the French border and Knokke-Heist near the Dutch border. At 68 km (42 miles) in length, it is the longest tram line in the world, as well as one of the few interurban tramways in the world to remain in operation. The line is built at metre gauge and fully electrified at 600 V d.c..
History
The first section of the track between Oostende and Nieuwpoort was brought into service in 1885, although the original route was further inland than the modern one and only short sections in Oostende and Nieuwpoort centres are still in operation. On its creation, the line was managed by the NMVB (National Neighbourhood Railway Company), or SNCV in French. In 1991, the NMVB/SNCV was broken into two regional companies, one Walloon and the other Flemish, with the Flemish successor company, Vlaamse Vervoermaatschappij De Lijn taking responsibility for operation of the coastal tram.
Characteristics
The service makes 70 stops along the 68 km long line, with a tram running every ten minutes during the peak summer months, during which it is used by over 3 million passengers. The service has recently been made more accessible through the addition of low-floor centre sections to existing vehicles, and the introduction of a few new HermeLijn low-floor trams.
While most of the older trams are unidirectional, and thus have to be turned on a loop in order to reverse direction, the newer ones are bi-directional, with driving positions and doors on both end/sides.
An interesting feature is the two alternative routes that exist around either end of the Leopoldkanaal locks just east of Zeebrugge, and the similar single track diversion around the inland end of the Boudewijnkanaal lock. This avoids delays to the tram schedule when the road bridge that the tram line normally follows is raised for boats passing under it. A similar feature exists at the southern end of Ostend station around the lock entrance to the Vlotdok.
Gallery
See also
External links