The North–South Axis is a tram tunnel in Brussels, Belgium, which crosses the city centre from north to south between Brussels-North railway station and Albert premetro station.
The first section of this tunnel was opened on 4 October 1976 between Brussels-North and Lemonnier premetro station.[1] It was then expanded to Albert in 1993.[2] It is currently used by tram routes 4, 10, 51 and 82. Only routes 4 and 10 use the full tunnel. Route 51 uses it between Lemonnier and Albert and route 82 between Lemonnier and Brussels-South railway station.
To the north, the North–South Axis starts in the municipality of Schaerbeek near the crossroad between the French: Rue du Progrès|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Vooruitgangstraat|italic=no and the French: Rue Rogier|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Rogierstraat|italic=no. The first station in the tunnel is Brussels-North, which offers a connection with the railway station of the same name. The tunnel then crosses the municipality of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode up to Rogier where it connects with the Brussels Metro. It then enters the City of Brussels, and stops at De Brouckère (with again a connection with the metro), Bourse - Grand-Place/Beurs - Grote Markt, Anneessens-Fontainas and Lemonnier. At Lemonnier, a tunnel entry allows trams to enter or leave the tunnel at this point. The tunnel then crosses Saint-Gilles, stopping at Brussels-South railway station (where it connects with the train and the metro), at Porte de Hal/Hallepoort (where it connects with the metro), at Parvis de Saint-Gilles/Sint-Gillis Voorplein, and at Horta. At Brussels-South, another entry allows trams to leave or enter the tunnel. The last stop is Albert, and is located at the border between the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Forest. Two different tunnel entries are then located on the French: Avenue Albert|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Albertlaan|italic=no on the Greater Ring (Brussels' second ring road) and on the French: Avenue Jupiter|italic=no/Dutch; Flemish: Jupiterlaan|italic=no.
The North–South Axis will become an actual metro line, Metro line 3. In phase 1, the existing tram tunnel will be transformed into a metro line.[3] Lemonnier will not be served by the metro. Instead, there will be a new metro station, "Toots Thielemans", between Brussels-South station and Anneessens.[4] The metro line should be operational by 2025.
In phase 2 of the project, metro line 3 will be extended from Brussels-North station to Bordet railway station. Seven new stations and a depot will be built for this purpose. Construction should be completed by 2030.