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 (T4, T7, T10)
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; 48 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 (T4, T7, and T10) 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]

The Brussels Metro was planned at the beginning of the 1960s to become a fully underground network. The original network, running between De Brouckère and Schuman, was inaugurated on 17 December 1969 as premetro tramways,^[6] which were later, in 1976, converted into the common section of the first two metro lines. These lines were then considered a single line with two branches, between De Brouckère and Tomberg and De Brouckère and Beaulieu.^[3] On 4 April 2009, with the completion of the "loop" of line 2 connecting Delacroix and Gare de l'Ouest/Weststation, the Brussels Metro was significantly reorganised.

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, as well as with Flemish De Lijn and Walloon TEC bus stops. Additionally, some metro stations offer suburban railway links as part of the Brussels Regional Express Network (RER/GEN) system.

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