Tram-Related Nuisances: Vibrations, Noise, and Cracks in Rue Steyls, Laeken

2023-07-10 18:30:00

“Everything shakes, it becomes unlivable. At the back of the house too, you can feel the vibrations. Sometimes, even inside, we can’t hear each other speak. Since 1989, Saida has lived in rue Steyls, not far from the Jacobs Fontaine stop, in Laeken. A narrow, residential street, where two tram lines pass (62 and 93) in both directions. On the ground, the tracks are rutted and visibly totally degraded.

For more than two years, this resident has been deploring an increase in tram-related nuisances. Vibrations and noise, which are suddenly invited into everyday life. “When I’m sitting here in the living room, sometimes I have the impression that the wall is going to collapse,” testifies her mother.

A statement shared by the neighbor Bérengère. “These trams are making a real racket,” sighs the shopkeeper. “But beware, everyone loves the tram. It’s very useful. But it wasn’t like that before. We just have to respect the rules and a return to normal.”

On its facade and in its hall, Saida also points to new cracks. “We just repaired the glass in the door.” Same problem with Claude, another neighbor. “The tile cracked.”

The T200 and speed singled out

According to Laekenoise, it is mainly the T2000 trams that cause nuisance. “The very old ones didn’t cause any problems,” recalls the local resident, supported by her neighbour. The newest (T3000) would therefore not be the most problematic. In addition to the vehicle, the speed is singled out. “Zone 30, the trams don’t know it. ”

T2000: the cursed STIB tram

The local residents have been informed and the STIB confirms: “The complete renewal of the tracks is planned for 2027”, with in particular the installation of “anti-vibration and anti-noise devices”. A date that makes Saida and her neighbors fulminate, demanding immediate action. “2027? It’s making fun of the world”, judge Bérengère. “There is an abandonment of this street”, concludes Saida.

“It is not possible to cut several lines at the same time”

The Stib justifies the date by the co-presence of several construction sites in the north of the capital, in particular rue Léon Théodor in Jette. “It is in fact not conceivable, neither for travelers nor for the inhabitants of the sector, to cut several lines at the same time, because this would have a very significant impact on their journeys by public transport.”

The works on rue Steyls will also have to be coordinated with those on rue Stéphanie, on the same line, and still require a lot of studies. “This avoids having to cut the same two lines at two different times.”

Dust, irritation, vibrations: local residents shine the spotlight on the nuisances of the VRT construction site in Schaerbeek

In the meantime, the Brussels transport company claims to carry out grinding work where the rail is worn to reduce vibrations. “A second grinding campaign will be organized once more this year and track inspection will continue regularly until the replacement of the rails in 2027.” According to Claude, these operations directly reduce the nuisance in his home. But at Saida and her neighbour, no improvement, they tell us.

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