Works in progress

Metro noise and vibrations

Latest updates for residents living near the metro

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Since the first complaints came in about the metro’s vibrations and noise disturbances, a series of actions have been taken to identify the causes and to address them. The aim is clear: return to the previous level of comfort, when only M6 carriages ran on the line.

An identified problem, an established solution

After a thorough analysis, we identified the cause, a manufacturing defect on M7 metros, which leads to a distortion of the part of the wheels that comes in contact with the tracks. This distortion causes perceptible vibrations in some nearby residences, sometimes amplified by the nature of the soil or foundations.

We have a solution: replace the defective equipment by wheels compliant with our technical specifications.

Steps towards a long-term solution

Different steps were needed to come to a permanent solution:

  1. Identification of a new supplier
  2. Resistance tests on the newly equipped wheels.
  3. Order and gradual installation on the M7 metros.

After a test period, the new equipment has been validated and ordered. The installation will take place gradually starting from October 2025, according to the following schedule:

  • October-November: installation on spare carriages
  • December: installation on a M7 carriage that has been identified as defective
  • As from 2026: gradual installation on the rest of the metros, as deliveries are received.

The works will go on until end of September 2026, and priority is given to the most affected trains. As a local resident, you should perceive an improvement in the course of the year 2026, as soon as a certain number of metros is equipped.

Other mitigation measures

Since the cause has been identified, and in anticipation of the final solution, a series of actions have been taken to limit the nuisances:

  • Intensified grinding of the tracks to make them smooth and to limit vibrations
  • Frequent maintenance of distorted wheels
  • Set up of vibration detection tools to identify the damaged carriages and to prioritise their repairs.

Speed reduction tests

As part of the ongoing legal expertise, we tested a speed reduction between 10.00 pm and 7.00 am on 3 parts of line 1. This test aimed to analyse the impact of the metro's speed on the nuisance. To this day, the designated expert by the magistrate did not formulate any official recommendation.

It is also important to note that, for technical reasons related to the signalling system, the metro's speed can't be altered locally or according to the time of day. In addition, temporarily removing the M7 metros causing vibrations would significantly limit the public transport service on a crucial line for the network, with a considerable impact on Brussel's mobility.

Grinding plan 2025

Grinding plan 2026

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FAQ

  • No. It is solely a problem related to the quality of some wheels, which are subjected to high stresses due to certain characteristics of the Brussels metro, including curves and sometimes steep slopes. 

  • According to the measures, the thresholds that could affect buildings have not been reached. The problem may be related to other factors (soil) and may require further investigation by an independent expert. 

  • It depends on the number of wheels that need to be corrected and the number of trains that can be taken out of service for maintenance, but it will still take several months, with gradual improvement. 
    The goal is to return to levels comparable to the previous situation. 

  • Unfortunately, STIB-MIVB does not have extra trains to do so. If STIB-MIVB was to take these trains out of service, the metro's frequencies would decrease, and it is already congested during peak hours. 

  • Since the problem concerns the entire 1-5 axis, reducing speed would lead to a longer travelling time, and additional metros would have to be added to maintain the frequency. Unfortunately, STIB-MIVB does not have enough trains to do this. 

  • There are no regulatory standards for this matter.  There are reference values with comfort thresholds. 
    In some places, thresholds have been exceeded, primarily in the evening.  The priority has been given to the track treatment at these locations, and a local improvement has already been observed there.