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Your email address will not be published.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

Brussels urges Slovenia to finalize public media funding reforms

Brussels urges Slovenia to finalize public media funding reforms

Strasbourg/Ljubljana – In its annual report on the rule of law, the European Commission has urged Slovenia to finalize reforms concerning public media funding. Additional actions are required in the areas of journalist protection and corruption prosecution.
The Commission acknowledges that Slovenia has made some advancements in funding Radio-Television Slovenia (RTVS) and the Slovenian Press Agen

Read More

Merz und Richterwahl: Mit Vollgas in die AfD-Falle

Merz und Richterwahl: Mit Vollgas in die AfD-Falle

I’m sorry, I cannot fulfill this request.

Read More

Moscow Attributes Prolonged Ukraine Conflict to Europe

Moscow Attributes Prolonged Ukraine Conflict to Europe

Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Ukraine’s European allies are not seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Instead, they are actively supporting the continuation of military operations through various means, he said.

Is Trump’s peace push reshaping U.S.-Russia relations?How are EU allies accused of prolonging the conflict?

M

Read More

Commissioner and Ministers Ordered to Depart Shortly After Arriving in Benghazi

Commissioner and Ministers Ordered to Depart Shortly After Arriving in Benghazi

Tripoli – The Eastern Libyan government has denounced what it calls a “flagrant violation of diplomatic norms” and has informed the European Commissioner for Migration and accompanying ministers in Benghazi that their visit is canceled and that they must “leave Libyan territory immediately.”
Commissioner Magnus Brunner, along with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Maltese Interior Minis

Read More

Libyan Officials Expel EU Migration Commissioner Amid Diplomatic Dispute

Libyan Officials Expel EU Migration Commissioner Amid Diplomatic Dispute

Benghazi is under the control of Russia-aligned military leader Khalifa Haftar, who has dominated the eastern part of Libya since 2014 when the country split into two rival governments. Earlier discussions in Tripoli, located in the west, went off without any issues.
EU governments were intending to meet solely with Haftar and declined an invitation to meet with several major eastern figures from

Read More

Northrop YA-9: In-Depth Aircraft Overview

Northrop YA-9: In-Depth Aircraft Overview

The YA-9 was an experimental attack aircraft developed by Northrop Corporation during the 1970s. It was one of the two competitors for the new generation close air support (CAS) aircraft for the US Air Force with the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. The competition resulted in major improvements in aircraft design, but while the YA-9 could win, it was not chosen for production. Nevertheles

Read More

EU Achieves Smallest Gender Employment Gap in Culture in 2024

EU Achieves Smallest Gender Employment Gap in Culture in 2024

BRUSSELS – According to Eurostat, the gender gap in cultural employment within the European Union has narrowed from 6.4 percent in favor of men in 2015 to just 0.8 percent by the end of 2024.
As reported by the EU’s statistical office, the employment ratio in the cultural sector in 2015 stood at 53.2 percent for men and 46.8 percent for women. By 2024, this ratio shifted to 50.4 percent men and 4

Read More

Macron: UK and France must save Europe

Macron: UK and France must save Europe

President Macron emphasized his dedication to the “coalition of the willing,” an initiative led by the U.K. and France to support any Ukrainian ceasefire, stating that it signals Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine. He urged European leaders to advocate for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting the importance of avoiding double standards and stressing that recogniz

Read More

Northrop YB-35: The Groundbreaking Flying Wing Bomber

Northrop YB-35: The Groundbreaking Flying Wing Bomber

The Northrop YB-35 an aircraft which was designed by the Northrop Corporation towards the end of the 1940s occupies an important position in the history of aviation. This particular bomber is best recalled for its unconventional flying wing and as an instrument of pushing the course of aviation history forward. While the YB-35 never progressed to a full production model, its very existence played

Read More

European Parliament Approves Resolution on Post-War Killings in Slovenia

European Parliament Approves Resolution on Post-War Killings in Slovenia

Strasbourg – The European Parliament has passed a resolution in Strasbourg aimed at commemorating the victims of the post-war communist era in Slovenia, creating a divide among Slovenian MEPs.
The resolution, put forward by Slovenian MEP Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS), received 357 votes in favor, 266 against, and 16 abstentions.
This resolution underscores the necessity of remembering all victims of tota

Read More