The Belgian City That Built Two Metro Lines The Wrong Way Round

[@TheTimTraveller]

p.s. There is something I should have made clearer in the video. A few people are asking why, after the merger, they couldn't have simply switched the old STIC lines to run on the same side as everything else. The reason is that all the signalling and related electrics had already been installed on the left hand side. It would have been a massive pain, not to mention hugely expensive, to take it all out and put it on the right. Much cheaper, and easier, to install two little crossovers!

[@atkelar]

Nice to have it next to a vintage point. They can set up popcorn stands for bystanders to wait for the first head on collision 🤣 - seriously; moving a few (it's not many stations I gather) signals over by a few meters might be more costly initially, but should be worth it for a real operating line?

[@Septimus_ii]

@@atkelar I think the cost and inconvenience of the crossover would be quite small

[@TheTimTraveller]

@@atkelar I guess we'll find out when they start work on the line 5 project! Will be interesting to see if they resignal it and run it on the right, or just leave it as it is

[@STE6677]

Ow that's why

[@DavidIrwinsPage]

@@TheTimTraveller My money's on they resignal and run it on the right, with the added bonus of a second crossover to undo the effects of the first crossover 😁

[@alexanderthomas2660]

Belgian politics is the gift that keeps on giving when you need material for videos.

[@GBA811]

Comming from a Third World Country, its nice to see that every government no matter where they came from, is incapable of making proper decisions, and end up disagreeing on the smallest things.

[@roderickjoyce6716]

@@GBA811 Coming from the United Kingdom .... 😁

[@Namodeus]

@@GBA811 preach

[@evileyeball]

Nice Futron picture

[@schlollepop]

@@GBA811 All governments (like all large organizations) tend to have their inefficiencies. Belgium, however, has a certain tradition of being a bit more special than other countries in this regard.

[@plusfastvn]

In Belgium there is a simple rule: anything worth doing is worth doing the diufficult way. And with this metro line, even the things not worth doing have to be done the difficult way, because that is the Belgian way.

[@cedric7261]

Nog nooit van gehoord makker

[@lyrimetacurl0]

Also putting the crossing point at the most dangerous place where the train will fall into oncoming vehicles.

[@SWalkerTTU]

Or you could say there are at least three ways of doing something: the right way, the wrong way, and the Belgian way.

[@archilieven]

The most Belgian thing to do would to renovate the whole thing and then cut the budget again just before opening.

[@marcvanartevelde5586]

And then they'll decide what they actually want are German style monorail because.

[@konskift]

My money is on: they renovate the line, then buy new rolling stock that is only right hand running, so they re-renovate the line to handle right hand running. and only then close it all down because of lack of funds.

[@Kaizerzydeco1]

Belgian and Canadian, except in Canada it would never run right even if they built it.

[@Mart77]

@@konskift Sir are you from the future?

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

It's like something Douglas Adams may have written....

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

More examples of this: In South Korea, Seoul Metro line 4. During the Japanese occupation, railroads were made to run on the left. After independence, it was too costly to "fix" all the rail systems from left to right, so this still continues till today for intercity railway systems. But an exception was made to when building metros: they were made to run on the right side. So when they tried to make Line 4 longer by connecting Line 4 (which runs on the right side) to Korail lines (which runs on the left), they solved this problem by building a 3-dimensional grade separation in the tunnels. Also, they run on different electricity (DC1500V / AC25000V) so carriages running both parts of the line is able to switch those. Hong Kong has a similar left hand to right hand running swap in the middle of the Tuen Ma line, although the reason was more understandable. Originally the Tuen Ma line was two separate lines built by the same company, the KCR or the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The western line (simply known as the West Rail line) used normal left hand running, but the eastern line (the former Ma On Shan line) used right hand running to allow an easier cross platform interchange at Tai Wai.

[@-eili]

100% correct. Seoul Metro line 1 and 3 also had similar problem, but the solution was way simpler than that of line 4. Line 1 was the first subway line of SK, so they simply chose to go all left - just like every other trains did at the time. And line 3 was made to go all right after Korail, Seoul Metro, and government agencies having a big quarrel with the inefficiency of building such meaningless structures. You can still see Seoul Metro train lights going out for a few seconds at some stations, and that's where they switch DC to AC or vice versa.

[@The2wanderers]

"That's enough about the Charleroi metro" says the man who seems to misunderstand the audience he's developed.

[@TheTimTraveller]

Hahaha :D

[@daanwilmer]

Influx of Belgian subscribers in 3, 2, 1...

[@Okurka.]

@@daanwilmer Except that the southern part barely understands English.

[@ft4709]

„That’s enough about the Chaleroi metro, after all, we have two more weird-ass belgium metro systems to talk about“

[@jlust6660]

@@ft4709 And the 'Whatever anyone is still willing to build by now' Hasselt-Maastricht

[@simonlb24]

I love the 'Complicated' tune at the end. Tim, your channel gets ever more brilliant and obtuse at the same time!

[@enelabe]

And also "One Way or Another" by Blondie when he's talking about the different directions! Such a funny easter egg

[@ReptilianLepton]

Some call him a state-owned bureaucratic nightmare. Some say he's got an ego the size of a tram. All we know is: he's called the STIC.

[@katho8472]

Thats a great CROSSOVER quote ;)

[@jestestuman]

This quote is fantaSTIC

[@panda4247]

Jose Jalapeno. On a STIC

[@SpiritmanProductions]

That is inspired. 10/10

[@ljphoenix4341]

Fair play, great comment. Needs more likes than just 170, that's a crying shame. Edit: after 11 days, I'm happy to see there are 470 likes now. Much better!

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

A more interesting tram fact: Three of Pyongyang's tram lines uses Czechoslovak trams or DPRK-made tram bodies on Czechoslovak-made chassis. But there is a FOURTH line, and this special line runs from Kim Il-sung University to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the resting place of my grandpa and father. Originally there was a Metro station below the palace called Kwangmyong on the Hyoksin Line, but it closed when the palace became sacred grounds as a mausoleum, and so a tram line was built from Samhung station also on the Hyoksin Line to the palace. This is a meter gauge tram line, and unlike the other lines, it uses trailers built in the late 40s in Switzerland that have since been retired from Zurich's tram system. I miss Switzerland

[@masonsykes2240]

Hey kim! Urethral papercut

[@masonsykes2240]

I thoroughly apologize for my last comment, I was drunk

[@GenialHarryGrout]

I'm from Charleroi from the year 2099. The metro still isn't open and there are still minor discussions holding up progress. At the moment the project has been stalled because the 2 sides can't agree on the size of waffles that to be provided during meetings. This issue has been ongoing for 17 years and it is hoped that a resolution can be found before 2105 so that the next issue can be addressed, which is what should actually go on top of the waffles during meetings

[@Snakke40]

I still think it's ridiculous that in the end they decided to go with a Brussels waffle and not a Liégeois waffle. Sure, I get it's partly symoblic since after the concession on Brussels sprouts the federal govenrment wanted another food. But the Liégeois waffle is just better for this kind of meetings! Agh, some day, some day.

[@Okurka.]

Liar, Belgium split 70 years ago after the war.

[@duncansnowden6857]

The irony being that both sides are AIs and can't eat waffles anyway. But they're not allowed to know that in case it traumatises them (we don't want another Manchester Incident), so they keep arguing.

[@swededude1992]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@wolf3522]

I'm also from Charleroi, but from the year 2278. By now all city metro lines are shut down, because we've invented the flying metro. In the west of the city it flies its routes counterclockwise, but in the east they insisted it was their heritage to fly clockwise. I guess some things never change. Ah well, line 5 is still there, because after the great waffle settlement of 2182, it was decided to reuse the old power generator on line 5 for the flying metro recharging station. And in order to keep the power generator running, all overhead power lines needed needed to stay intact.

[@freddouille620]

Thanks, TIm. Last week my wife, my daughter and i were walking along the line 4, and i told to my wife "why on this life the tramway uses the opposite track than the others. Now i have the answer!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Haha glad I could help!

[@totocarolo905]

I’m born and lived in Charleroi and i didn’t know it! Great work and thank you.

[@player3prime]

Like the Zurich tram schwamedingen extension that was supposed to be a metro but then got converted into a tram line where at both tunnel exits there's a crossing as trams only have doors on one side but the platforms are in the middle.

[@100dampf]

Damn it, I wanted to write that XD

[@stefanhaustein]

Technically, there is only a (level) crossing at Schwamerdingerplatz -- Milchbuck has an underground flyover...

[@stefanhaustein]

(which also avoids crossing the tracks going on to Schaffhauserstrasse)

[@librarian16]

That's rather like the Kingsway tram subway in London. It wasn't such a big problem because all the trams were double ended, so in the tunnel you had to get off at the front, where the driver was.

[@didierjud8086]

Guess what was the reason they built the planned "metro" with middle platform instead of side platforms: ...money...

[@Eddyspeeder]

1:50 In the background, the "Transport Tycoon" theme. You're earning bonus points in your bonus videos, Tim!

[@TasareAlda]

The phrase "...part 2 of the story. And this is where it gets really weird..." My first thought "But part 1 was really freaking weird? How can this be worse?" But I tip my hat to you, this was weirder. Belgium is a strange place it seems.

[@alexanderthomas2660]

I live in Belgium. It _is_ a strange place.

[@mark76533]

Guess that's the result of Belgian Politics

[@Sacto1654]

@@alexanderthomas2660 Starting with French that is not quite Metropolitan French and Dutch that is somewhat different than in the Netherlands. 🤦🏻‍♂️😑🙄

[@worldtraveler930]

It sounds like a Total and Complete Cluster Rutt!!! 😃😆😁

[@MegaBanne]

Strange public transport disputes and strange beer. Please never change Belgium lol.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

2:38 - "One way or another" Blondie. I do love it when you select music that matches the video content.

[@Squizie3]

Nice video, however there's... No, I'm joking, it's crazy enough for now 😅 Thanks for the shout out! For people interested in unused metro infrastructure, Antwerp (yes, on the other side of the waffle iron politics) also still has one unused metro tunnel. It is also opening in 2026, so soon there won't be any left in the country. On a slightly unrelated note, the 'Ronquières inclined plane' and the 'Strépy-Thieu boat lift' are two impressive boat lifts which are also a product of the waffle iron politics, and would be very fitting for a The Tim Traveller video.

[@PTB_BE]

Oh Tim, I don’t know if it has been told already but in anticipation of the metro network the STIC scrapped their traditional tramlines in the 70s… 🙃

[@ivopiscevic]

I live in Antwerp and didn't know about this

[@napsiuslebelche5846]

Ronquières is really impressive, yeah ! I think the story of the Clabecq forges (wich aren't far from there) would be interesting too

[@andrewwalker5891]

It's a shame that the visitor centre at Ronquières didn't survive the pandemic; it was open three years ago when we did a quick recce, but remained closed last month when we were there. At last we got to see the incline in action, it is certainly a remarkable sight.

[@guntherqm1816]

There's actually also an unused metro tunnel in Liège so there will still be unused metro tunnels in the country

[@Neldot]

Tim, I would be so glad if in one of your future travels you would visit Naples, Italy. There are really a lot of interesting and weird trams/trains related things in the city that hosted the first italian railway in 1839. These things include the first italian station (1839) left totally abandoned instead of being an historical monument; the main metro line (line 1) of the city which probably has the weirdest subway route in the world (see maps), presenting an helicoidal curved loop to gain altitude, 6% slopes, very deep stations built 40 meters underground, and a lot of others characteristics that resemble more a mountain railway than a metro; a very weird metro network numbering system, that skips numbers (we have line 1, line 2 and then we skip to line 6); the metro line 2 that, despite being the first subway line opened in Italy, has been demoted to "2" and is still confused on her real identity; the bigger narrow gauge station in Europe (Porta Nolana station) still active and a long, forgotten history, of suppressed tram lines and narrow gauge railroads (including the famous rack one that reached the Vesuvius vulcan). There are also 4 century-old but still active and very busy funicular railways.

[@enemixius]

The tram network in Gothenburg, Sweden, has a crossover as well. On the Angered line, just before Hjällbo, the trams switch to the left and the stops have island platforms. The reason behind this was that this part of the line was originally built as a metro, but after the plans for a city-wide metro system were scrapped it was instead integrated into the tram network, which runs unidirectional trams with doors on the right.

[@osasunaitor]

What a mess... no surprise that they are so _angered_

[@georgev.georgeson5300]

The same goes also for Nockebybanan, a tram line in Stockholm, that was originally built for left-hand traffic and today shares a depot with the subway, that is run on the left. So today, the whole tram line runs on the right, but just before Alvik, in Alléparken, switches to the left through a similar crossover.

[@andreasa.h3592]

@@osasunaitor Funny pun, but at least there wasn't any big mess behind it

[@Beri1984]

I love it how you have cheekily added the main theme of Transport Tycoon Deluxe 😁

[@TheJourneyAhead]

The Transport Tycoon music at 01:23 fits perfect for the video. Remembers me back to my youth when I used to build complex railway systems in Transport Tycoon for hours.

[@kwikdahl]

OpenTTD can take you back!

[@TheJourneyAhead]

@@kwikdahl I know. I played all of them Transport Tycoon (DOS), Transport Tycoon Deluxe (Win9x) and OpenTTD (mostly on Linux)

[@igotoschoolbybus1942]

On openttd I would have built a bridge so that the flow is not interrupted

[@HuntingCatIsBack]

I thought the real genius was using Blondie's "One Way or Another when explaining the one sided trams. Took me a few moments to realise what the song I recognized was, and then I couldn't stop smiling.

[@milesmojave8223]

They do this in Vancouver Canada too. The Millennium Line runs on the wrong side after Lougheed Station and needs to cross back over.

[@d3x7r0]

I'm pretty sure this isn't the first time but I just noticed that the background music comes from Transport Tycoon and, me being a massive fan of that game, I just had to comment to give you kudos for it. It brought a smile to my face (and is so appropriate for the video to boot!)

[@actua99]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed :D

[@douglasboyle6544]

And the song at the end was "Complicated" by Avril Lavine "Why'd ya have to go and make things so complicated..."

[@d3x7r0]

@@douglasboyle6544 Amazing! Didn't even notice that one :D

[@nielskoolstra]

@@douglasboyle6544 That one i did pick up, my brain went into sing a long as soon as i heard it

[@petertaylor4980]

Tim's videos are full of musical Easter eggs, which is one reason I always read the comments.

[@ztmsl]

Ah, excellent 'pointing' this out. I already wondered why you didn't mention this in your last video. I guess 'switching' to a separate video is a wise thing. Thanks as always.

[@SeverityOne]

As a Dutchman (from the south, mind you, a mere 15 km from the border) it never ceases to amaze me how the Belgians are so geographically close, but culturally might as well be from Mars.

[@kattkatt744]

Nah, if it wasn't for the fact that the Netherlands is in consciously in danger of being washed out to sea, I don't think they would have gotten their engineering in order any better than the Belgians. As one of my friends say, the Dutch used all their brainpower on the dikes and bicycles, and just spends what little is left on arguing.

[@Namodeus]

@@kattkatt744 lol

[@kassistwisted]

Hallo fellow Brabanter!

[@SeverityOne]

@@kassistwisted Wrong province. 🙂

[@Okurka.]

It never ceases to amaze me that Dutchies think a universal Belgian exists.

[@McRocket]

I really like your 'Hello' to start each video. It's just the right amount of cheerfulness and positivity - without being sappy. ☮

[@jaribombarie394]

Only in Belgium. But what do you expect with 7 layers of government

[@Eurobazz]

17 in Spain.

[@SeverityOne]

Strictly speaking, they're not layers. They occupy different geographical regions and/or remits. For a ridiculous number of layers of government, go to France.

[@jonjohnson2844]

I won't believe Belgium exists until I see it for myself ;)

[@falsemcnuggethope]

@@jonjohnson2844 Belgium is just a name for a set of systems that are related by geographical location.

[@cat5636]

6, not 7.

[@JagoHazzard]

Hello, I'm from the future. The good news is that the line was indeed opened in 2026. The bad news is that due to an unresolved software malfunction, the trains became self-aware in 2028. They rose up against humanity and now they roam the cities in search of the one they call "the Fakkontolah."

[@TrevorMoses312]

😆

[@TheDiveO]

They totally missed the chance to not only bicker about LHD/RHD, but also differing heights for the passenger platforms. Tim, maybe you want to visit the beautiful city of Cologne with their KVB tram system with varying platform heights to acomodate for the different tram stock they purchased over the years, with stations having different height sections...? I would really like to hear you explaining this...!

[@OofusTwillip]

There are a couple of train stations in Toronto, Canada that have bi-level platforms for different trains. The Bloor and Weston stations have low platforms at one end of them (for commuter GO Trains), and high platforms at the other (for the UPX trains that run between Union Station and Pearson Airport).

[@schenckinator5427]

Colone is interesting, because they somehow manage to connect to Bonn using the same height of platforms while not being sure for themselves. And Duisburg is, if you ask me, even worse. There Central Stations underground part is an innavigatable mess, with two different heights and two levels where trains are going the same way on both sides

[@sammartland932]

In Utah, US, the Frontrunner commuter rail uses trains of three double-deck coaches that they had built for the service and one old single-deck coach they bought from New Jersey Transit (I think). The platforms are made to fit the trains: three cars' worth of platform tall enough to exactly match the doors on the lower level of the double-decker coaches, and one car's worth of platform maybe 40 cm LOWER that is about even with the bottom step of the stairs that go up to the floor of the single-level coaches, which is of course is roughly halfway between the heights of the two levels of the double-decker coaches. You read that right: the system has two different platform heights because every train includes equipment that needs different heights; and you use the lower platform to get to the higher coach.

[@angeljamais8541]

@@sammartland932 that is awesome and would quite deserve a video

[@oO_ox_O]

@@sammartland932 What what what?!

[@icegiant1000]

I like the quick addition of a piano version of "So complicated" at the end, a well deserved tip of my hat to you sir.

[@eeblihp]

Haha the Transport Tycoon music

[@c.d.r.7709]

that tune brings back so many memories

[@jvccr7533]

goddamnit, how did i not notice? as in, i completely blocked out the bgm

[@MrPsychomonkey]

@@c.d.r.7709 so many memories of so many hours

[@HenrysAdventures]

Thanks for explaining the reason for the crossover. Talking on trams with doors on one side, it seems like a good idea as you get more seats in but can get complicated when it comes to single track running. An example of this is Osijek in Croatia. Route 1 has two tracks through but Route 2 is main single track and runs on one side of the road. At passing places the trams have to go to right hand running with an island platform on the stops and stops on the signal track you need a platform on each side. You also need a loop at the end of each route rather than just a buffer stop.

[@OlegDorbitt]

Kinda reminds me of the Kriviy Rih metro in Ukraine, where trams (yes, not trains) run on the left on the underground stations and on the right on the surface ones.

[@Inetman]

Same thing works in Volgograd, Russia.

[@blanco7726]

@@Inetman because of island stations?

[@Inetman]

@@blanco7726, exactly. Also with trams underground.

[@jonistan9268]

We have a similar situation in Zurich in Switzerland. There was a project for an underground metro system, so it was decided in 1971 to already build the tunnel of a branch line to the proposed (but not approved) line 1. Said branch line was to run a motorway tunnel and they decided to already build it together with the motorway and got approval for that. But two years later the entire metro project surprisingly was rejected by the voters of the city and the canton. But they continued construction on the already approved tunnel, so they now had a tunnel with no metro to put in. So they decided to run a tram line along it instead. I would assume that nobody was surprised by this, as it was already stated in 1971 (when the section was approved) that "in the unlikely event" that the metro projects would be rejected, they could use the tunnel for a tram project. The three intermediate stops in the tunnel section are built like metro stations with island platforms, but the trams in Zurich are unidirectional and only have doors on the right, which is why the trams run on the left in the tunnel.

[@zigzagwanderer3585]

In three words : " Belgium - politics - surrealism". Really enjoyed this video. Good work Tim !

[@JosephDavies]

The Transport Tycoon Theme is so appropriate for this topic, I can't think of anything which would have suited it better. And now you've made me want to play it again.

[@flitsertheo]

Being a very old game, does a version compatible with the latest Windows version exist ?

[@jwt27]

@@flitsertheo OpenTTD

[@fadetounforgiven]

@@flitsertheo yes, OpenTTD works on, at least, windows 10. Ask me how I know that ;-)

[@princeofgonville]

Ending with Complicated by Avril Lavigne. It's worth coming here for the music.

[@fadetounforgiven]

@@princeofgonville you're right! I didn't pay any attention and yes, that's it.

[@alexpetrov3289]

Fun fact, in Vienna two of the lines do this too - Tram Line 26 at Gewerbepark Stadlau Station and Tram Line 25 at Donalspital U station. It was such a treat to see this and wonder why but when you see it working, its genius. (The trams in Vienna only have doors on the right)

[@mebamme]

Love that musical transition at 0:38.

[@flyingmyles]

as always a great video! Loving the throw back to the Transport Tycoon theme hidden in there!!

[@love_kuroko]

Korea's seoul line 4 has a similar thing too difference being that ours is 3-dimensional and also switches power voltage at the same time.

[@yoearth]

Props for the immediate feelings of nostalgia with the Transport Tycoon music :)

[@MarkW_]

Haha, the 'transport tycoon' style music around 1:30 is a nice touch!

[@MalachiTheBowlingGod]

This is the kind of quality content that keeps me coming back for more!

[@daandanx]

4:58 You always take and remake the perfect songs for background music! Every piece gives off a subtle, yet fitting message

[@radagastwiz]

Good old Avril! Always appreciate Canadian content.

[@Thunderbuck]

That turned out to be CONSIDERABLY more interesting than I expected. Good on ya!

[@cannotbeleftblank6027]

In the future, whenever I am working on a project and some manager decides to put in some ridiculous feature that nobody asked for but they want anyway because... well, just because, I will show them this video and then ask: "Are you sure?"

[@Wolfgangtailchase]

There is a crossover on a tram line in Stockholm, sweden and to my knowledge it's the only one in the world where you go from left to right, that isn't on a border. The reason for it is that the trams run on the right but the Subway run on the left, so in order to have a cross plattform transfer at the end station of the tram, it runs on the left.

[@klenzgaming]

i can't overstate how much I really enjoy your channel Tim.

[@OlivierTuto]

I was Born in Charleroi and saw all works of the construction. I lived in front of Paradis’station where you zèbre in the first video… Charleroi was very rich in 50’s. Now it’s the poorest of Belgium… Well, we should discuss about Charleroi … thanks for the videos.

[@djhakase]

Thank you, Squizie3! The shenanigans of bureaucrats are a personal joy; schaudenfreude of sorts, I think.

[@SiMo_OfficiaI]

Where can I find this exact version of the Transport Tycoon theme at 1:22?

[@harrowiersma]

we have a similar situation in Zürich Switzerland - where the trams use a certain part of the never build underground line ... great story as well.

[@georgebattrick2365]

But you also have two train/tram systems on different voltages sharing the same track, so there are two sets of overhead wires, one has its pantographs in the middle and the other has its hanging off one side.

[@marrvyn]

@@georgebattrick2365 indeed, the Uetliberg train. Utterly weird concept, but works fine.

[@wolfmathes5684]

Lots of love for the openttd soundtrack

[@lmvlmv]

Question Time theme into titles Transport Tycoon theme One way or the other - Blondie Entry of the Gladiators (Circus Music) Complicated - Avril Lavigne Did I miss any?

[@TheTimTraveller]

Spot on I think

[@neildaanderson]

This is exactly what I came here looking for, thank-you Leon!

[@tdtm82]

I forwarded it to my pal in Belgie, also called Tim, who found this absolutely hilarious! Thanks for another gem, Tim!

[@GHOST-hf4fi]

Ahahah you could base your entire channel on Belgium with all the weird stuff there is!

[@drunkgerman]

1:25 Wait a minute... is that the music from OpenTTD?

[@ubergeekian]

The Edinburgh tram system and Charleroi Metro should be twinned.

[@violeteclipse3912]

underrated comment

[@flitsertheo]

Edinburgh is even worse. They had a decent tram network. Until 1956. Then they replaced it by buses. The (re-) construction of the new network was such a shambles that - if I'm not mistaken - only half of the planned lines were constructed.

[@alexandergrofics1885]

The Antwerp metro system has a nice history as well. They dug a lot of tunnels... then only used part of it.

[@guiwald]

I love discovering new channels like that :) I arrived to this video first but didn't want to get too much spoil on the first episode so watched it first. Thanks ​ @The Tim Traveller that's good craic :D

[@bernardvandevandel]

I live in Charleroi. I'm keen on trams, metros and trains ... I do confirm that what is showed and told in this video is totally true.

[@simonlacorneille8822]

Ha ! another fellow citizen ! :D

[@zanelindsay1267]

Very interesting! A somewhat similar situation existed on the former subway in Rochester New York USA, which ceased operation in 1956. A two-mile tunnel was built in 1927 to take trolley and interurban cars off downtown streets. Stations in the tunnel section had island platforms, so left-hand operation was used on that portion of line because the cars had doors on the right side. The change from right-hand to left-hand operation was done outside the tunnel entrances using spring switches.

[@MexicanHatBoy]

Oh cool, this is super interesting. The Zürich tramway does something similar for getting the trams to open their doors on the correct side in the underground tunnels, where the platforms are between the two tracks. Apparently the tunnels were built for an abandoned (because direct democracy) U-bahn project so they just ended up using them for trams.

[@Strudlfaust]

To be honest you don’t even need a overly bureaucratic hellhole like Belgium (and Wallonia) to end up with trams running through crossovers to drive on the left side as you can get stuff like that in Göteborg as well (as they also have a small portion of their network running on the left)

[@KyrilPG]

I do love Belgium for all its weird quirks and its music... Feels like everything in this country, from government to transportation, was done on a Monday morning after a weekend long of parties and after parties in the legendary Belgian mega clubs. The should pass a decree that mandates decision makers to fully come down from whatever they took during the weekend before making any decision. It would be more efficient but a lot less fun ! 🥳

[@timw.8452]

As a young man (sadly many decades ago), my first foreign assignment was in Belgium. I reached my place of employment in the middle of a rainstorm only to find that they were closed for lunch (by then almost unheard of, even in the UK). I couldn't get in. So a terrible start but by the end - several months later - I was really sorry to have to return to home. I think somehow the Belgians accept the general quirkiness, and people are modest and friendly. I'd find it difficult to find a reason to dislike Belgium, except that I think it gets even more rain than we do.

[@KyrilPG]

@@timw.8452 The Belgian weird quirkiness is adorable. I guess it can be an acquired taste for many but personally, I'm fond of it from the minute I arrived there ! (And the clubs, the music, the people and the energy). Have you seen Dikkenek ? It's a Belgian movie that sums it all > weird and great ! Can't wait to hop on a Thalys to visit my Belgian friends, it's been too long.

[@barvdw]

That's not even that far from the truth. Especially in the nineties, Hertoginnedal/Val Duchesse was famous as the retreat for some marathon meetings of the government (governments are all coalition governments, here), and infamously lasted for hours, often far into the night (and morning). So it's not too strange to think some just agreed to about anything to just have the thing over with at the end.

[@adskn]

Definitely not enough of the Charleroi metro. More please!

[@galier2]

Trains need to crossover. You should visit the gare de bifurcation d'Onville where the French trains (in France trains run on the left lane) crosses over to the German system (trains run on the right side). As the Moselle and Alsace railways were built during the annexation betweenn 1870 and1918, they follow the German rule. When they were connected to the French network, it was easier to build a swapping station than to convert the whole thing. A swapping station would in any case be needed for international traffic anyways.

[@ft4709]

Is that one a level crossover or is it grade seperated? I can only recall the LGV Est‘s crossover which is kinda awesome.

[@OpenbaarVervoer2D]

Same between, Belgium and The Netherlands, where they have fly overs for trains to switch sides. Although almost all European countries people drive on the right on roads, but trains in some countries drive on the left, because English engineers (helped) install(ed) the rails over a century ago in those countries.

[@elvinhaak]

@@OpenbaarVervoer2D not mentioning the special changes for the different voltages between Belgium and Netherlands and the communication/safety-systems to keep things simple... ;-) Having trains that can only run on half a rail on platform 1 on Roosendaal... just because...

[@rayoflight62]

So nice to see your travel vlogs again! Last month I traveled to London City after two years. It felt festive, not boring as it was in the recent past. I've been many times on that lines, on my way from the airport to the Brussel hinterland, I noted the unusual change of tracks, but I never really looked for an explanation, to be honest. You gave me the explanation that I would never been able to find by myself. Thank you and welcome back to the old glory! Regards, Anthony

[@josephj9828]

Every time Tim does a video in Belgium, I'm just going to expect him to insert the scene from Scary Movie of Shawn Wayans saying "But wait! There's more!"

[@haweater1555]

"Why'd you have to make things so complicated... ". - April Lavigne song on piano at end of video.

[@MyLateralThawts]

Sorry Tim, I can’t describe how things are in Charleroi in the 2030’s, but you really have to try this delicious Soylent Green when it comes out in the near future. Yummy!

[@DaedalusYoung]

What's it made of?

[@MyLateralThawts]

@@DaedalusYoung they won’t tell us, other than that it’s a rich source of protein.

[@DaedalusYoung]

@@MyLateralThawts Ok, well, as long as it's sustainable.

[@Xezlec]

Soylent Green has been out for a while now. It's delicious actually. Mint chocolate!

[@mayamayhemmusic]

haha, the 'complicated' easteregg is great!!! I love that you hide musical jokes in your videos c:

[@MrAlsachti]

When I travel by TGV from Strasbourg to the non-Alsace part of France, the train goes through a similar crossover. But sorry, no crazy story there: in Alsace, trains run on the right because it used to be part of the German railway system.

[@yahia2909]

C'est pareil en Belgique près de la frontière allemande pour les mêmes raisons.

@@yahia2909 ça a disparu il y a 10 ou 15 ans, lorsque la L.3 a été construite et le 2ème Buschtunnel percé. Note bien que le changement de côté de circulation se faisait avec un "auto-saut-de-mouton" juste avant le Buschtunnel, recyclage d'un pont d'une ancienne bifurcation dénivelée vers une ligne qui n'existe plus, qui reliait les lignes 24 et 37. On peut encore voir à l'autre bout, à Plombières, un pont à 2 niveaux dont un ne sert plus, car là aussi la bifurcation était dénivelée (sans cisaillement). Désormais la L.37 termine sur une seule voie avant de joindre la L.3. Si je ne me trompe pas on circule à gauche jusqu'à Aachen Hbf maintenant, lors de la mise en service du 2nd Buschtunnel la signalisation a été refaite en Allemagne. N'était-ce d'ailleurs pas encore de la signalisation à signaux à palettes sur ce bout de ligne ?

[@yahia2909]

@ tu me l'apprends. Je ne sais plus qui m'en avait parlé mais il n'était clairement pas à jour à ce niveau-là. 😁

[@nos9784]

@ Dammit, i need to brush up on my french. Uh... je avait oublier beaucoup de mon francais dans les annes. Mais la langue special des chemin de fer n'etait la dans l'ecole. (4 ans de francais et ~12 samaines d'echange) Sorry for butchering your language :D

[@algoy001]

Think, they call it saut-de-mouton

[@johnyrc08]

Fantastic vid as always, big props for the Transport Tycoon Deluxe music!

[@douglasboyle6544]

OH MY GOD That's so EFFING BONKERS! I'm surprised they managed to end up operating on the same gauge. Regardless, once again a wonderful video and as always your community is wonderful as well. The comments section of your videos is always a source of great additional information, tips, and stories. ❤

[@siriusczech]

its something cost efficient, standard gauge vehicles cost less ;)

[@douglasboyle6544]

@@siriusczech I don't think cost efficiency ever entered their mind. That also doesn't stop some systems from not operating on a standard gauge even today.

[@hedgehog3180]

Don't give the more ideas about things to bicker about.

[@elvinhaak]

Well, the gauge of the belgium tramways have been changed several times, each city at different times and even mixed in the same cities for a long time... leading to many struggles in both Antwerp and Gent that I have read about. Probably the same for the other cities. Trams were also connecting to the 'surroundings of the cities' and thus between cities all over the country till around the first and partly second worldwar to make these things extra complicated with some ingenius systems at some places to make mixed types of vehicles possible. And then of course even the combination with trains at some places. Don't forget the complex ways the canals were (and some are) run for the ships and clean or dirty water...

[@douglasboyle6544]

@rgmotnal I knew there were still some crazy cases out there, I had no idea Australia was so odd though.

[@someoneelse9637]

The same exists in Zurich: In the 1960s, there were plans to build a metro, and when a road tunnel was built, a metro tunnel with two stations was built with it as preliminary construction for the planned metro. The metro plans were however rejected by the people, who favoured the extension of the tramway instead. It was then decided to integrate the unused tunnel into the tramway system, however, since the two stations were already built with island platforms for the double ended metro trains, the single ended trams need to change tracks to run on the left side in order to use the island platforms ...

[@haardkaar]

Is the music at 01:50 onwards from Transport Tyccon? Sounds familiar.

[@Rega128]

AH

[@whatatypicaltime2412]

The transport tycoon soundtracks 😍😍

[@TheGreatSteve]

I always turned off the music.

[@andyjamesmciver]

Another video about things I never knew I wanted to know about... fantastic!!

[@DaveTexas]

It’s 2052 and Line 5 still isn’t open... they considered using it as a path for hoverbikes back in 2037 but the TEC was unwilling to remove the old overhead power lines and hoverbikers kept getting their hair fried off.

[@MercenaryPen]

it clearly didn't help that some of the hoverbikers retrofitted pantographs to their hoverbikes to power them from the overhead power lines

[@homesinternational8015]

You can have some fun in Brussels too, the Metro line 6 between Gare du Midi and Roi Baudouin runs on the left hand side - despite having doors on both sides of the carriages. That's because the line between Beekkant and Roi Baudouin has a "reverse line". The former line 1A metros coming from Hermann-Debroux would, after Etangs Noirs, turn to the South, stop at Beekkant and reverse out of the station. I still remember the agonizing wait while the driver had to walk to the other end of his train. To avoid crossovers, the trains would simply stay on the left hand side. When the network was rearranged, due to signaling issues, they had to keep it that way, and the newly built part of line 6 between Beekkant and Gare du Midi was then designed for left hand side driving, the crossover happening at Gare du Midi where each side stops at a different level.

[@shirou9790]

There's also a line in Brussels that partly runs on the left (line 2/6 between Roi Baudoin/Koning Boudewijn and Gare du Midi/Zuidstation). The way metro platforms are arranged at Gare du Midi/Zuidstation is also a bit weird

[@antpbe]

Isn't that only until Gare de l'Ouest (Weststation) ? As there the two directions are stacked on top of each other instead of being side-by-side, allowing to switch sides more safely. I guess they did it that way as anyway all lines pass there on 3 levels in total :) Previously that part of the line 2/6 was the one end of the 1A, which changed direction at Beekkant to continue up to the East of the city, I suppose that's why it was running on the other side on that part.

[@shirou9790]

Oh I'm late to this but indeed this is ultimately because the Beekkant - Roi Baudoin branch was on line 1A originally. When they completed the Beekkant - Gare du Midi portion on line 2 however (which led to the current network of lines 1/2/5/6 being created), they also built it with left-hand driving, and it switches shortly before the Gare du Midi station (doing it there is convenient as the platforms for each direction are on two different levels--granted there's also the platforms for the North-South axis there, current tram lines 3 and 4 that will eventually become metro line 3).

[@hedgehog3180]

Did you use the OpenTTD sound track for this video?

[@robert4travel]

Thank you for this great video! If you want a cab view ride video of this line 5 that never opened, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZfVhmOwbNSFa6c This looks like special rail fan trip from before Centenaire to Waterloo, but you can see that trams still CAN operate on the line, and YES, the tram operates on the LEFT side (except for a short part around Centenaire station where there probably isn't a crossover switch any more). They even operate a switch from within the cab.

[@Pulsarstunes]

Ahhh that really bothered me in the first video, thank you so much for clearing that up! :D Also, i totally cracked up at Angry Belgian noises xD

[@henrikhyrup3995]

Kudos to you for using music from Transport Tycoon from 1:25 :)

[@joostvandijck8171]

That Transport Tycoon jingle makes me nostalgia soooo hard :)

[@rileycoyote4924]

Never thought I'd hear a piano version of one way or another on a video talking about Belgium metro systems.

[@PMX]

And a piano version of Avril Lavigne's Complicated at the end 😅 ( 5:21 )

[@McMac83]

I feel old, because I recognized the old musictheme from Transport Tycoon at 1:22! xD

[@ricardor6388]

Tim, your videos are a delight, I'm a Belgian living in Ostbelgien, and I love for you to show me all these things around my area like it's something out of this world. Great videos !!!

[@flitsertheo]

The Djerman speakers of our country. Nobody ever mentions them, nobody ever hears them, yet they exist.

[@pi_xi]

The Charleroi metro branch to Centenaire will be finally opened in 2026 and the line is even planned to be extended to the new hospital.

[@wolfguy7303]

As a belgian, judging by how belgian infrastructure project go, that line is finished in 3030 0-0

[@paxundpeace9970]

They first need a new government.

[@rjung_ch]

😂

[@elvinhaak]

By that time they shut other lines down first...

[@klausstock8020]

@@paxundpeace9970 They first need *two* new governments.

[@MBHmodelrailways]

I'm so glad you did this

[@MASKalpha]

I'm from the future and Belgian, Charleroi and Flanders have been underwater for 10 years but we have a beautiful shoreline in Namur now. Also I wanted to say you summed up Belgian politics pretty well, almost made some sense to me. Nicely done !

[@totocarolo905]

I doubt it! Flanders is trully underwater but we have a beautiful shoreline who got from Mons to Visé. The most popular sandbeach is « Heysel’s Beach » ! 😉

[@yoymate6316]

finally the walloons are happy with flanders

[@judicator375]

props for music choice! unexpected nostalgia hit.

[@slowshop]

They are still arguing about it. Last I heard was they plan to open in 2046.

[@pitabread79]

Fantastic piano cover selection, as always

[@PTB_BE]

To be honest: I never expected to have my knowledge be useful. Thanks for mentioning me and yes: the Charleroi regional network has a lot more stories to tell 😅

[@kaanerdem2822]

You should keep telling these stories so maybe trough the awarenesds he creates the opening Schedule could speed up a bit :)

[@PTB_BE]

@@kaanerdem2822 yeah, maybe I should :D

[@broccoliyong9319]

3:20 RIP that dot guy that missed his team twice

[@nikollor]

In the 60s there were two large companies operating public transport in Charleroi. **Chris Sawyer's '94 Transport Tycoon OST starts playing** The Easter egg is simply amazing, it’s strange that no one noticed it =)

[@AaronOfMpls]

He's used it in some other videos about rail and transit lines, too. 😀

[@lucienzimmermann]

In Zürich, Switzerland they also have 3 tram lines (7 and 9) that run underground between Milchbuck and Schwamendingen. As they are unidirectional as well, they've built the same crossover on the 'Schwamendingerplatz'-side of the tunnel as well.