The new M7 trains on the network
The new M7 metro welcomed its first passengers at the beginning of July, after several months of tests without passengers. This new vehicle has a number of new features for even greater comfort and accessibility, including automatic door opening, new multi-purpose areas dedicated to people with reduced mobility, pushchairs and bicycles, large information screens, coloured LED signage above the doors and platform-level floors.
In total, the STIB has placed a firm order for 43 trains, which will be delivered progressively. In 2021, 9 new trains were put into circulation on its metro network. The delivery and commissioning of the new trains will continue in 2022. The arrival of the new M7s on lines 1 and 5 has freed up vehicles from previous generations that have been placed onto lines 2 and 6 to increase their frequency.
In November 2021, the capacity on Lines 2 and 6 increased by 10% in peak hours compared to mid-2021. At the beginning of 2022, a new capacity increase resulted in a total peak gain of 20% compared to mid-2021. The frequency of lines 2 and 6 has increased to 2.5 minutes on the shared section during rush hour, similar to the frequency of lines 1 and 5.
The new M7 trains will eventually increase the capacity of the Brussels metro network by 8,000 seats per hour in each direction.