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Your email address will not be published.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

Toronto School Attack Leaves Ten Dead

Toronto School Attack Leaves Ten Dead

Toronto, Canada, February 11, 2026 — Eurotoday Newspaper — A devastating Canada school attack has left ten people dead and several others injured after a gunman opened fire inside a Toronto high school during morning classes. The tragedy has shaken the nation, prompting an intensive police investigation and renewed debate over school safety measures across the country.
Authorities confirmed that e

Read More

300 Scientology Volunteers Distribute Half a Million Drug-Prevention Booklets at Winter Olympics

300 Scientology Volunteers Distribute Half a Million Drug-Prevention Booklets at Winter Olympics

KINGNEWSWIRE / PRESS RELEASE / MILAN, Italy — 12 February 2026 — A growing network of approximately 300 volunteers has been engaged in a national drug-prevention campaign in Italy since January, distributing educational booklets titled “The Truth About Drugs.” Reports indicate that over 500,000 pamphlets have been distributed so far, with Milan spearheading the initiative and other It

Read More

The Conflict at Alden Biesen

The Conflict at Alden Biesen

EU leaders convene at Alden Biesen castle to discuss reviving Europe’s economy and the viability of “strategic autonomy” amidst internal discord. POLITICO’s Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton explore the competitiveness retreat.
Additionally: The Hungary funds case approaches a pivotal moment in Luxembourg as an important opinion is expected from the Court of Justice of the Euro

Read More

Record Heat in Southern Hemisphere Sparks Fire Crisis in Australia and South America

Record Heat in Southern Hemisphere Sparks Fire Crisis in Australia and South America

Sydney, Australia — February 11, 2026 — Eurotoday Newspaper — Record heat Southern Hemisphere conditions are intensifying across Australia, South America and parts of southern Africa as 2026 begins with historic temperature highs and widespread wildfire emergencies. Meteorological authorities confirmed that multiple regions have recorded some of their warmest January readings on record, triggering

Read More

Civilians and Aid Operations Targeted Amid Intensifying Sudan Airstrikes

Civilians and Aid Operations Targeted Amid Intensifying Sudan Airstrikes

Two children were reportedly killed and 13 others injured in a drone strike on a mosque in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, where the victims were students from the nearby school. This occurred just hours after a primary school in Dilling, South Kordofan was attacked, resulting in additional injuries.
WFP warehouse hit
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli, w

Read More

Merz Urges Germans to Work More — Faces Harsh Backlash

Merz Urges Germans to Work More — Faces Harsh Backlash

The political impact on Merz and his conservatives is significant. According to Germany’s ARD-DeutschlandTrend survey, two-thirds of Germans are against the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) proposal to limit part-time work.
More critically for Merz, his conservatives are losing ground on their primary issue: the economy. Only 31 percent of Germans now trust the chancellor’s conservatives to enha

Read More

Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Intensifies Talks on Iran and Gaza in Washington

Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Intensifies Talks on Iran and Gaza in Washington

Washington, February 11, 2026 — Eurotoday Newspaper — The Trump Netanyahu meeting held in Washington in 2026 brought renewed international attention to Iran nuclear negotiations and the evolving security situation in Gaza. Convened at the White House, the high level summit highlighted the depth of US Israel coordination at a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty across the Middle East.
Officials

Read More

Traveling in Europe: Essential Insights for 2026

Traveling in Europe: Essential Insights for 2026

Europe is one of the easiest regions in the world to explore, especially by rail, but requires smart planning due to entry rules, new EU border systems, seat reservations, passenger rights, and pressure on peak-season cities.
A continent built for fast connections—if you plan around the pinch points
From the Atlantic to the Baltics, Europe’s density of cities, towns, coastlines, and mountains of

Read More

Von der Leyen and Merz Disagree on Future of EU’s Core Climate Law

Von der Leyen and Merz Disagree on Future of EU’s Core Climate Law

“This system is implemented to reduce CO2 emissions and enable companies to transition to CO2-free production lines. If this is not achievable or the right instrument, we should be open to revising it or considering a postponement,” he stated, receiving applause from industry representatives.
“We should avoid anything that jeopardizes the competitiveness of our industry. I agree

Read More

US Influenza Vaccine Meeting in Washington Sparks Global Discussions

US Influenza Vaccine Meeting in Washington Sparks Global Discussions

Washington, February 11, 2026 — Eurotoday — The US influenza vaccine meeting has been formally confirmed for 2026 as American health officials prepare to join global experts in Washington to determine the composition of the upcoming seasonal influenza vaccine. A World Health Organization official confirmed that US representatives will take part in scientific consultations reviewing virus circulati

Read More