Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017

Based on STIB statistics since 1950, this article analyses the choices made in the area of public transport service. A network based almost exclusively on trams gradually became an underground-tram-bus service, which has once again reached the same coverage as in 1950 in terms of kilometres. Althoug...

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Main Author: Vincent Carton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université libre de Bruxelles - ULB 2018-09-01
Series:Brussels Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1769
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author Vincent Carton
author_facet Vincent Carton
author_sort Vincent Carton
collection DOAJ
description Based on STIB statistics since 1950, this article analyses the choices made in the area of public transport service. A network based almost exclusively on trams gradually became an underground-tram-bus service, which has once again reached the same coverage as in 1950 in terms of kilometres. Although there was soon a consensus regarding the underground, it did not compensate for the decrease in the service due to network operation economies in the 1980s. It is not enough to invest most of the means in one single mode, in particular if its territorial coverage is limited. Although the relationship between the improvement in service and an increase in clientele is not automatic, a conclusion emerges: in 68 years, STIB attracted more users on three occasions when it improved its service throughout the network, especially the frequencies of trams and buses, as the underground frequencies have always been high. The study sheds light on the debate regarding the possible choices: should there be an investment in an underground line between Albert and Bordet or in the surface network (extension via lines with “high-level service”, protection of trams and buses from traffic and increase in frequencies)?
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spelling doaj-art-0e4df0e7511448329cf24b6c8f6eec922025-08-20T02:38:05ZengUniversité libre de Bruxelles - ULBBrussels Studies2031-02932018-09-0110.4000/brussels.1769Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017Vincent CartonBased on STIB statistics since 1950, this article analyses the choices made in the area of public transport service. A network based almost exclusively on trams gradually became an underground-tram-bus service, which has once again reached the same coverage as in 1950 in terms of kilometres. Although there was soon a consensus regarding the underground, it did not compensate for the decrease in the service due to network operation economies in the 1980s. It is not enough to invest most of the means in one single mode, in particular if its territorial coverage is limited. Although the relationship between the improvement in service and an increase in clientele is not automatic, a conclusion emerges: in 68 years, STIB attracted more users on three occasions when it improved its service throughout the network, especially the frequencies of trams and buses, as the underground frequencies have always been high. The study sheds light on the debate regarding the possible choices: should there be an investment in an underground line between Albert and Bordet or in the surface network (extension via lines with “high-level service”, protection of trams and buses from traffic and increase in frequencies)?http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1769public transportmobilitypublic actionregional policypublic spaceurban infrastructures
spellingShingle Vincent Carton
Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
Brussels Studies
public transport
mobility
public action
regional policy
public space
urban infrastructures
title Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
title_full Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
title_fullStr Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
title_full_unstemmed Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
title_short Public transport service and use in Brussels from 1950 to 2017
title_sort public transport service and use in brussels from 1950 to 2017
topic public transport
mobility
public action
regional policy
public space
urban infrastructures
url http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1769
work_keys_str_mv AT vincentcarton publictransportserviceanduseinbrusselsfrom1950to2017