Métro Léger de Charleroi
Light rail network in Charleroi, Belgium / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Métro Léger de Charleroi[1][2][3][4] (abbreviated as MLC, also locally referred to as the Métro Carolo[5] or simply Le Métro[6][7] in French) is a 33-kilometre (21 mi) light rail network in Belgium. The system consists of a loop line around central Charleroi and three branches towards the suburbs of Gilly, Anderlues and Gosselies. Another branch to Châtelet (historically, the third one) was partially built, never entered service, but will finally do so in 2026.[8]
Métro Léger de Charleroi | |||
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Overview | |||
Owner | Société Régionale Wallonne du Transport | ||
Locale | Charleroi, Hainaut, Belgium | ||
Transit type | Light rail | ||
Number of lines | 4 | ||
Number of stations | 48 (incl. 10 underground) | ||
Website | TEC Homepage | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation | 21 June 1976; 47 years ago (1976-06-21) | ||
Operator(s) | TEC Charleroi | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 33 km (21 mi) | ||
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge | ||
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The current system was opened in seven phases ranging from 1976 to 2012, which included 28 stations, of which 24 were in service as of 2012[update] along with 6 regular tram stops in Anderlues. On 22 June 2013, 18 more stations were added to the metro system when line M3 to Gosselies went into service.[9]
The original plans for the network were much more extensive with 8 branches radiating from the central loop, but had to be abandoned due to high costs and low prospective ridership rates.