Traveler groups protest Brussels-North station building project, citing transfer difficulties

Traveler associations are raising concerns about a new construction project planned for the area around Brussels-North station, the busiest in Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region recently granted a permit for the development, which includes four towers on the former CCN site opposite the station. Developers Atenor and AG Real Estate plan to build 533 homes, extensive office space, and retail areas.

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Train travelers who want to transfer to the tram, bus, or metro will have to travel a longer distance and leave the station building. That is a step backward, according to traveler organizations such as TreinTramBus or the Brussels GUTIB/GEBOV.

However, organizations like TreinTramBus and GUTIB/GEBOV argue that the project is "anti-modal." They contend that the design will force train passengers transferring to trams, buses, or the metro to exit the station building and travel outdoors, making the journey longer and more inconvenient. The associations are demanding clearer, more logical, wider, and fully covered walkways between different modes of transport to ensure the station functions as an accessible and pleasant multimodal hub.

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So that the entire project truly becomes a multimodal hub that is easy and pleasant to use, given that the train station is the busiest station in the country on weekdays.

The Belgian railway company NMBS (SNCB) has acknowledged the concerns raised by the traveler associations. A spokesperson stated that while NMBS is not involved in the project's design, it is closely monitoring developments at Brussels-North, paying particular attention to the impact on passengers and intermodal connectivity. NMBS noted that the current plans do include several improvements, such as enhanced accessibility for cyclists and better facilities for individuals with limited mobility.

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From our role as a transport company, we closely follow all developments around Brussels-North, with particular attention to the impact on the traveler and on intermodality.

Furthermore, NMBS pointed out that the demolition of the former CCN building will restore the visibility of the main station building. Despite these potential benefits, the core issue for the traveler associations remains the perceived disruption to seamless transfers between different public transport options, which they believe is unacceptable for a station of Brussels-North's importance.

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Based on the information available to it, NMBS believes that the current plans also provide for various improvements, such as better accessibility to the station by bicycle and additional facilities for people with limited mobility. The demolition of the former CCN building also ensures that the station building is again clearly visible.