De Lijn Halts Christmas Trams in Ghent Due to Fire Safety Concerns Post-May 2024

Ghent (Eurotoday): De Lijn has canceled the Christmas trams this year because of safety issues after a fire in May 2024 that caused injuries. Many people are disappointed, but safety is the priority. Kris Zontrop from Erfgoed Tram-Bus is helping to check and update the old trams before they can run again.

De Lijn, the public transport company in Flanders, has said that the nostalgic Christmas trams will not run this year because of safety issues. These vintage trams are usually used for special occasions, but a fire during a parade in May 2024 raised concerns about their safety. The fire caused an injury and has made people worry about the reliability of these old trams.

Why did De Lijn suspend historic tram tours in Ghent following safety concerns?

De Lijn has decided to stop all tours with the historic trams until further notice after the fire incident. Many people are disappointed because they look forward to these festive rides during the holidays, but the company said that the safety of passengers and staff is their top priority. The historic trams will remain out of service until they can ensure safety, avoiding risks with these cherished but old vehicles.

De Lijn found a problem with the old trams after a report last summer. Kris Zontrop from Erfgoed Tram-Bus said the tram that caught fire in Ghent hadn’t been used for years and wasn’t updated for new lines. Now De Lijn is checking everything again, so they won’t be ready by the end of the year as planned. They want to ensure the historic trams are safe and in good shape. They will decide which trams can run and how often, treating newer and older trams differently, and they are also changing how tram drivers are trained.


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

Incompatibility Made "Compatible" by Deceptive Text of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics

Incompatibility Made "Compatible" by Deceptive Text of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics

The confidential legal analysis prepared for the final review of the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention aligns with a misleading 2011 Statement by the Council of Europe’s Committee on Bioethics. This statement falsely suggests compatibility between the UN CRPD and the use of coercive measures in psychiatry, a notion still supported by the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on

Read More

EEA Chief Warns Climate Change May Render Parts of Europe Inadequate for Farming

EEA Chief Warns Climate Change May Render Parts of Europe Inadequate for Farming

Heat, drought, and water scarcity are poised to significantly alter agriculture in parts of Europe, rendering some crops unviable in the driest regions of the Mediterranean, according to European Environment Agency (EEA) Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen.
“Certain crops will no longer thrive, particularly in the most arid areas of the Mediterranean and southern Europe,” Ylä-Mononen stated in an

Read More

Burnham Joins the Political Arena

Burnham Joins the Political Arena

The honeymoon period is over as Parliament resumes, and Andy Burnham now encounters his first significant challenge as prime minister.
The PM is set to make his debut in the Commons, pledging to “bring back hope” and enhance affordability in people’s lives. However, with public finances under strain, the question remains whether he can fulfill his promises to reduce energy bills,

Read More

Germany Declares No Return to Normalcy with Russia

Germany Declares No Return to Normalcy with Russia

Asheville, United States, 31 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has said there can be no return to normal Germany Russia relations while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, criticising the way Moscow’s finance minister was received at a G20 meeting in the United States.
Klingbeil made the remarks during a gathering of G20 finance ministers and central bank

Read More

Russia Launches Digital Ruble

Russia Launches Digital Ruble

Russia introduced the digital ruble on September 1, enabling major domestic banks and retail chains to handle payments and transfers with this new form of the national currency.
Individuals can open digital ruble accounts via participating banks’ mobile apps, allowing monthly transfers of up to 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,500) from traditional bank accounts to digital rubles, while bus

Read More

Europe Prepares Its Response to China

Europe Prepares Its Response to China

Brussels is becoming increasingly concerned about its economic ties with Beijing, but the bloc is hesitant to take drastic measures just yet.
Though the EU already has the well-known ‘trade bazooka’ available, the Commission is contemplating a new approach to tackle Chinese overcapacity and risky dependencies. Our colleague Camille Gijs spoke with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to find out m

Read More

Zelensky Schedules Ukraine Meeting with Trump Envoys to Discuss Peace Efforts

Zelensky Schedules Ukraine Meeting with Trump Envoys to Discuss Peace Efforts

Kyiv, Ukraine, 31 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed a planned Trump envoys Ukraine visit with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as Washington continues diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Zelensky described his call with the two US representatives as “detailed and constructive” and said officials were working to finalis

Read More

Turkish Court Prohibits Sale of New Book by Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Turkish Court Prohibits Sale of New Book by Former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

A Turkish court has completely banned the distribution and sale of a new book by ousted and imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, reported by the Turkish Minit website and quoted by BTA.
The ruling, published on August 27, affects the book “The People Are My Witnesses” (“Millet Şahidimdir”), which presents Imamoglu’s defense in the ongoing trial against him and 414 others.
Imamoglu is accused

Read More

Modi Urges a Tense Putin to End the Ukraine War

Modi Urges a Tense Putin to End the Ukraine War

Modi emphasized the need for a peace settlement, citing figures like Gandhi and Mother Teresa, and stated India’s support for peace efforts. Putin acknowledged Modi’s message, expressing agreement on the direction. Russia persists in demanding that the end of the Ukraine conflict be on its own terms, which Ukraine rejects, as recent attacks on Ukraine have intensified. Russia is rumore

Read More

GOP Appeals to Supreme Court for Lower Political Ad Rates in Washington

GOP Appeals to Supreme Court for Lower Political Ad Rates in Washington

Washington, DC, 31 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Republican campaign committees have asked the US Supreme Court to restore access to cheaper political ad rates, escalating a legal dispute that could affect campaign spending ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) are seeking an emergenc

Read More