Emergency repairs halt tram line 81 for at least a week

The 81 tram in Brussels is out of service between La Chasse and Flagey following the discovery of a massive underground cavity beneath the street and tram tracks in the area.

The hole – which is several cubic metres in size – was found while Vivaqua was replacing sewer connections on Avenue Victor Jacobs in Etterbeek. It was likely caused by leaks in the old connections.

All vehicular and tram traffic is forbidden to avoid any risk of collapse while Vivaqua works to resolve the situation. After the cavity is filled, Brussels public transport operator Stib will inspect the site and then restore the tram tracks.

“Vivaqua is now carrying out emergency repairs and how long these will take is currently unclear, but we are assuming at least one week of disruption for passengers,” a Stib spokesperson said.

In an optimistic scenario, traffic could resume by the end of this week. Replacement buses are running in the meantime.

A similar situation occurred in Uccle in December, causing significant disruption on tram line 7. Stib noted that it took a week to resolve.

Separately, works by Vivaqua in Evere will also cause a long period of disruption to tram line 55 between the Tilleul and Paix stop. These trams will be diverted locally as Stib takes the opportunity to replace the rails on site.

Those works will start in spring 2025 and take about a year, running until at least February 2026. Exactly when they will start has not yet been determined.