The Central Station metro station is undergoing a complete renovation: bigger, more modern and more attractive
The Central Station metro station will change completely in a few years. More spacious, more modern, brighter, more accessible... Once the work is completed, the station will look completely different. The work will be carried out in phases, so as to minimise disruption and never interrupt metro traffic.
List of links
Current disruptions
🚧 The crosswalks on the Putterie and the rue Cardinal Mercier have been moved.
🚧 One of the accesses to platform 2 (direction Stockel / Herrmann Debroux) from the mezzanine is temporarily closed until 31/12/2022.
🚧 The demolition of the roof slab may cause some noise disturbance in the station.
🚧 Access n°3 at the corner of the rue des Colonies and the rue de la montagne du Parc is permanently closed.
Context
The Central Station metro station is one of the oldest in the STIB network. It was opened in 1969. Today, this true multimodal hub in the heart of the city, with buses on the surface and the train right next to it, welcomes several thousand passengers every day. The station has never been thoroughly renovated since it was inaugurated, while the number of passengers passing through it has increased significantly over the same period.
It is therefore necessary to renovate and completely transform the station. This major renovation and expansion project carried out by the STIB, the Region and Beliris, will provide more comfort and better accessibility for passengers.
Expansion and modernisation
The objectives of this in-depth renovation are to meet the current needs of travellers by making the station more than just a transit point, but a truly enjoyable area. The focus is on modernising, increasing the amount of space and light, improving the flow, comfort and accessibility.
The station's capacity will be greatly increased, which will facilitate the flow of passengers.
Several technical rooms will be relocated, and the platforms will be renovated and enlarged which will improve comfort and safety.
Particular attention will be paid to the provision of natural light. New, warmer and more energy-efficient lighting will be installed. The floors, walls and ceilings will be completely refurbished in light colours to enhance the bright atmosphere. This will make the station a more pleasant place to be for everyone. The installation of stores, public toilets and ATMs will complete the station's facilities and several artworks will be installed. The Central Station is one of the few stations that does not yet have one. A call for proposals is currently in process to designate the artists who will appear in the station.
The other essential part of this renovation is the improvement of the station's accessibility. New stairs will be built from Rue Ravenstein and Rue Cardinal Mercier, the two existing lifts will be replaced, and an additional lift will be installed, thereby bringing the total number of lifts in the station to three. People with reduced mobility will have direct access to the station platforms from the outside, without having to go through the railway station. The same applies to the escalators: those in the station will be renovated and two additional escalators will be installed, bringing the total number of escalators in the station to five.
The KIOSK sales point will be completely refurbished and the information and signalling system will be renovated.
Finally, it is planned to fit the station with entrance gates.
Renovation work in four phases
In order to minimise disruption in the station and on the surface, and to guarantee passenger access to the metro throughout the works, the expansion and renovation work will be carried out in four main phases.
- Phase 1: reconfiguration of the existing station at the location of the current access at the intersection of Rue des Colonies and Rue Montagne du Parc
- Phase 2: Expansion of the station on the Rue Ravenstein side
- Phase 3: Expansion of the station on the railway station side
- Phase 4: renovation of the entire interior of the station and the platforms.
During the construction work, the station will continue to be operational and the metro traffic will not be interrupted.
Particular attention has been paid to the impact of the work on the street surface. The station is located under a 7-branch road junction, which makes it a very complex project to carry out. Every effort will be made to keep disruptions to surface traffic to a minimum during construction.
To achieve this, state-of-the-art techniques will be used, such as building the walls and roof slab of the station first, in order to be able to dig underneath later. Thanks to this technique, surface traffic will always be guaranteed on one side of the road.
The work affecting surface traffic will be completed in the course of 2025. The underground work in the station itself will follow and is planned to last about two years.
Accompanying and supporting
Residents, shopkeepers and passengers will be informed and accompanied throughout the construction period. A large number of support measures are being put in place: ombudsman, WhatsApp group, website, newsletter, social networks, information leaflets, construction site signs, videos, an accompanying committee, specific information for SMEs in collaboration with Hub.brussels and the City of Brussels...
Particular attention will be paid to delivery zones, building access, horeca, signage for events and tourists, and security.
At your disposal
- Subscribe to our WhatsApp distribution list.
In order to inform local residents, shopkeepers, travellers and passers-by directly affected by the works, we have set up a whatsapp distribution list. This information channel allows us to quickly and concisely share relevant worksite information with those who wish to stay updated on the latest developments.
How to subscribe?
Register the number 0490 47 86 94 on your smartphone and send the message "INFO GCS FR + your last name and first name". You will then receive the latest information about the project. To stop receiving information messages, simply send "STOP" to 0490 47 86 94.
- For any additional information request:
Contact the STIB ombudsman by e-mail at ombudsmanGCS@stib-mivb.brussels or by telephone on 0490 47 86 94.