The Belgian City That Built Two Metro Lines The Wrong Way Round 

p.s. There is something I should have made clearer in the video. A few people are asking why, after the merger, they couldn't have simply switched the old STIC lines to run on the same side as everything else. The reason is that all the signalling and related electrics had already been installed on the left hand side. It would have been a massive pain, not to mention hugely expensive, to take it all out and put it on the right. Much cheaper, and easier, to install two little crossovers!

Belgian politics is the gift that keeps on giving when you need material for videos.

"That's enough about the Charleroi metro" says the man who seems to misunderstand the audience he's developed.

In Belgium there is a simple rule: anything worth doing is worth doing the diufficult way. And with this metro line, even the things not worth doing have to be done the difficult way, because that is the Belgian way.

More examples of this: In South Korea, Seoul Metro line 4. During the Japanese occupation, railroads were made to run on the left. After independence, it was too costly to "fix" all the rail systems from left to right, so this still continues till today for intercity railway systems. But an exception was made to when building metros: they were made to run on the right side. So when they tried to make Line 4 longer by connecting Line 4 (which runs on the right side) to Korail lines (which runs on the left), they solved this problem by building a 3-dimensional grade separation in the tunnels. Also, they run on different electricity (DC1500V / AC25000V) so carriages running both parts of the line is able to switch those. Hong Kong has a similar left hand to right hand running swap in the middle of the Tuen Ma line, although the reason was more understandable. Originally the Tuen Ma line was two separate lines built by the same company, the KCR or the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The western line (simply known as the West Rail line) used normal left hand running, but the eastern line (the former Ma On Shan line) used right hand running to allow an easier cross platform interchange at Tai Wai.

The most Belgian thing to do would to renovate the whole thing and then cut the budget again just before opening.

Some call him a state-owned bureaucratic nightmare. Some say he's got an ego the size of a tram. All we know is: he's called the STIC.

The Transport Tycoon music at 01:23 fits perfect for the video. Remembers me back to my youth when I used to build complex railway systems in Transport Tycoon for hours.

I love the 'Complicated' tune at the end. Tim, your channel gets ever more brilliant and obtuse at the same time!

The phrase "...part 2 of the story. And this is where it gets really weird..." My first thought "But part 1 was really freaking weird? How can this be worse?" But I tip my hat to you, this was weirder. Belgium is a strange place it seems.

I'm from Charleroi from the year 2099. The metro still isn't open and there are still minor discussions holding up progress. At the moment the project has been stalled because the 2 sides can't agree on the size of waffles that to be provided during meetings. This issue has been ongoing for 17 years and it is hoped that a resolution can be found before 2105 so that the next issue can be addressed, which is what should actually go on top of the waffles during meetings

A more interesting tram fact: Three of Pyongyang's tram lines uses Czechoslovak trams or DPRK-made tram bodies on Czechoslovak-made chassis. But there is a FOURTH line, and this special line runs from Kim Il-sung University to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the resting place of my grandpa and father. Originally there was a Metro station below the palace called Kwangmyong on the Hyoksin Line, but it closed when the palace became sacred grounds as a mausoleum, and so a tram line was built from Samhung station also on the Hyoksin Line to the palace. This is a meter gauge tram line, and unlike the other lines, it uses trailers built in the late 40s in Switzerland that have since been retired from Zurich's tram system. I miss Switzerland

Thanks, TIm. Last week my wife, my daughter and i were walking along the line 4, and i told to my wife "why on this life the tramway uses the opposite track than the others. Now i have the answer!

Like the Zurich tram schwamedingen extension that was supposed to be a metro but then got converted into a tram line where at both tunnel exits there's a crossing as trams only have doors on one side but the platforms are in the middle.

Nice video, however there's... No, I'm joking, it's crazy enough for now 😅 Thanks for the shout out! For people interested in unused metro infrastructure, Antwerp (yes, on the other side of the waffle iron politics) also still has one unused metro tunnel. It is also opening in 2026, so soon there won't be any left in the country. On a slightly unrelated note, the 'Ronquières inclined plane' and the 'Strépy-Thieu boat lift' are two impressive boat lifts which are also a product of the waffle iron politics, and would be very fitting for a The Tim Traveller video.

Tim, I would be so glad if in one of your future travels you would visit Naples, Italy. There are really a lot of interesting and weird trams/trains related things in the city that hosted the first italian railway in 1839. These things include the first italian station (1839) left totally abandoned instead of being an historical monument; the main metro line (line 1) of the city which probably has the weirdest subway route in the world (see maps), presenting an helicoidal curved loop to gain altitude, 6% slopes, very deep stations built 40 meters underground, and a lot of others characteristics that resemble more a mountain railway than a metro; a very weird metro network numbering system, that skips numbers (we have line 1, line 2 and then we skip to line 6); the metro line 2 that, despite being the first subway line opened in Italy, has been demoted to "2" and is still confused on her real identity; the bigger narrow gauge station in Europe (Porta Nolana station) still active and a long, forgotten history, of suppressed tram lines and narrow gauge railroads (including the famous rack one that reached the Vesuvius vulcan). There are also 4 century-old but still active and very busy funicular railways.

I really like your 'Hello' to start each video. It's just the right amount of cheerfulness and positivity - without being sappy. ☮

As a Dutchman (from the south, mind you, a mere 15 km from the border) it never ceases to amaze me how the Belgians are so geographically close, but culturally might as well be from Mars.

5:24 haha great background music. "Complicated" really is a fitting song for this troubled rail system

I love it how you have cheekily added the main theme of Transport Tycoon Deluxe 😁

So nice to see your travel vlogs again! Last month I traveled to London City after two years. It felt festive, not boring as it was in the recent past. I've been many times on that lines, on my way from the airport to the Brussel hinterland, I noted the unusual change of tracks, but I never really looked for an explanation, to be honest. You gave me the explanation that I would never been able to find by myself. Thank you and welcome back to the old glory! Regards, Anthony

Haha the Transport Tycoon music

I'm pretty sure this isn't the first time but I just noticed that the background music comes from Transport Tycoon and, me being a massive fan of that game, I just had to comment to give you kudos for it. It brought a smile to my face (and is so appropriate for the video to boot!)

I love discovering new channels like that :) I arrived to this video first but didn't want to get too much spoil on the first episode so watched it first. Thanks ​ @The Tim Traveller that's good craic :D

I’m born and lived in Charleroi and i didn’t know it! Great work and thank you.

Only in Belgium. But what do you expect with 7 layers of government

as always a great video! Loving the throw back to the Transport Tycoon theme hidden in there!!

2:38 - "One way or another" Blondie. I do love it when you select music that matches the video content.

The tram network in Gothenburg, Sweden, has a crossover as well. On the Angered line, just before Hjällbo, the trams switch to the left and the stops have island platforms. The reason behind this was that this part of the line was originally built as a metro, but after the plans for a city-wide metro system were scrapped it was instead integrated into the tram network, which runs unidirectional trams with doors on the right.

They totally missed the chance to not only bicker about LHD/RHD, but also differing heights for the passenger platforms. Tim, maybe you want to visit the beautiful city of Cologne with their KVB tram system with varying platform heights to acomodate for the different tram stock they purchased over the years, with stations having different height sections...? I would really like to hear you explaining this...!

Fun fact, in Vienna two of the lines do this too - Tram Line 26 at Gewerbepark Stadlau Station and Tram Line 25 at Donalspital U station. It was such a treat to see this and wonder why but when you see it working, its genius. (The trams in Vienna only have doors on the right)

This is the kind of quality content that keeps me coming back for more!

The Transport Tycoon Theme is so appropriate for this topic, I can't think of anything which would have suited it better. And now you've made me want to play it again.

Kinda reminds me of the Kriviy Rih metro in Ukraine, where trams (yes, not trains) run on the left on the underground stations and on the right on the surface ones.

Fantastic vid as always, big props for the Transport Tycoon Deluxe music!

Thanks for explaining the reason for the crossover. Talking on trams with doors on one side, it seems like a good idea as you get more seats in but can get complicated when it comes to single track running. An example of this is Osijek in Croatia. Route 1 has two tracks through but Route 2 is main single track and runs on one side of the road. At passing places the trams have to go to right hand running with an island platform on the stops and stops on the signal track you need a platform on each side. You also need a loop at the end of each route rather than just a buffer stop.

Love that musical transition at 0:38.

Haha, the 'transport tycoon' style music around 1:30 is a nice touch!

Another video about things I never knew I wanted to know about... fantastic!!

I like the quick addition of a piano version of "So complicated" at the end, a well deserved tip of my hat to you sir.

Korea's seoul line 4 has a similar thing too difference being that ours is 3-dimensional and also switches power voltage at the same time.

In the future, whenever I am working on a project and some manager decides to put in some ridiculous feature that nobody asked for but they want anyway because... well, just because, I will show them this video and then ask: "Are you sure?"

I forwarded it to my pal in Belgie, also called Tim, who found this absolutely hilarious! Thanks for another gem, Tim!

Ah at 1:22 you made my heart smile.... OpenTTD music, from their own music repo! PERFECTION!

4:58 You always take and remake the perfect songs for background music! Every piece gives off a subtle, yet fitting message

Sorry Tim, I can’t describe how things are in Charleroi in the 2030’s, but you really have to try this delicious Soylent Green when it comes out in the near future. Yummy!

Ah, excellent 'pointing' this out. I already wondered why you didn't mention this in your last video. I guess 'switching' to a separate video is a wise thing. Thanks as always.

I love your videos mate, they make me smile always.

we have a similar situation in Zürich Switzerland - where the trams use a certain part of the never build underground line ... great story as well.

The Edinburgh tram system and Charleroi Metro should be twinned.

Hello, I'm from the future. The good news is that the line was indeed opened in 2026. The bad news is that due to an unresolved software malfunction, the trains became self-aware in 2028. They rose up against humanity and now they roam the cities in search of the one they call "the Fakkontolah."

Thanks for the video and stay safe ✌️

Yeaaaahhh. More Tim!! Excellent!!

Question Time theme into titles Transport Tycoon theme One way or the other - Blondie Entry of the Gladiators (Circus Music) Complicated - Avril Lavigne Did I miss any?

I was Born in Charleroi and saw all works of the construction. I lived in front of Paradis’station where you zèbre in the first video… Charleroi was very rich in 50’s. Now it’s the poorest of Belgium… Well, we should discuss about Charleroi … thanks for the videos.

One thing I love about your videos are those piano tracks -) One or another - love it

The transport tycoon soundtracks 😍😍

Thank you, Squizie3! The shenanigans of bureaucrats are a personal joy; schaudenfreude of sorts, I think.

I am eager to watch another video about all the crazy stuff you left out!

I'm so glad you did this

It’s 2052 and Line 5 still isn’t open... they considered using it as a path for hoverbikes back in 2037 but the TEC was unwilling to remove the old overhead power lines and hoverbikers kept getting their hair fried off.

I live in Charleroi. I'm keen on trams, metros and trains ... I do confirm that what is showed and told in this video is totally true.

Love the little details, like the background music from Transport Tychoon :)

AH

I do love Belgium for all its weird quirks and its music... Feels like everything in this country, from government to transportation, was done on a Monday morning after a weekend long of parties and after parties in the legendary Belgian mega clubs. The should pass a decree that mandates decision makers to fully come down from whatever they took during the weekend before making any decision. It would be more efficient but a lot less fun ! 🥳

This was exactly the question I had on my mind, well done Tim for satisfying our curiosity!

Props for the immediate feelings of nostalgia with the Transport Tycoon music :)

They do this in Vancouver Canada too. The Millennium Line runs on the wrong side after Lougheed Station and needs to cross back over.

Never thought I'd hear a piano version of one way or another on a video talking about Belgium metro systems.

Ahahah you could base your entire channel on Belgium with all the weird stuff there is!

The choice of music is spot on! 👍

Hello from Kyiv! Your content is amazing)

Oh cool, this is super interesting. The Zürich tramway does something similar for getting the trams to open their doors on the correct side in the underground tunnels, where the platforms are between the two tracks. Apparently the tunnels were built for an abandoned (because direct democracy) U-bahn project so they just ended up using them for trams.

Trains need to crossover. You should visit the gare de bifurcation d'Onville where the French trains (in France trains run on the left lane) crosses over to the German system (trains run on the right side). As the Moselle and Alsace railways were built during the annexation betweenn 1870 and1918, they follow the German rule. When they were connected to the French network, it was easier to build a swapping station than to convert the whole thing. A swapping station would in any case be needed for international traffic anyways.

That turned out to be CONSIDERABLY more interesting than I expected. Good on ya!

Merci Tim d'avoir répondu à cette question que je t'avais posée à l'épisode précédent !

i can't overstate how much I really enjoy your channel Tim.

OH MY GOD That's so EFFING BONKERS! I'm surprised they managed to end up operating on the same gauge. Regardless, once again a wonderful video and as always your community is wonderful as well. The comments section of your videos is always a source of great additional information, tips, and stories. ❤

1:50 In the background, the "Transport Tycoon" theme. You're earning bonus points in your bonus videos, Tim!

Was that some cheeky TTD music cover I noticed in the background? Well done Tim.

As a belgian, judging by how belgian infrastructure project go, that line is finished in 3030 0-0

Is the music at 01:50 onwards from Transport Tyccon? Sounds familiar.

Ya gotta love it when your content makes more content.

Awesome video again, extra points for the OTTD music!

There's also a line in Brussels that partly runs on the left (line 2/6 between Roi Baudoin/Koning Boudewijn and Gare du Midi/Zuidstation). The way metro platforms are arranged at Gare du Midi/Zuidstation is also a bit weird

5:25 is that a piano cover of "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne?

Love the animations on your videos lol.

Thanks to your previous video I have been bingeing Charleroi on Google Street View for the last fortnight. This is the icing on the cake (or perhaps waffle). You've got to cover the bonkers R9 Pétite Ceinture, even just from the point of view of a pedestrian!

Every time Tim does a video in Belgium, I'm just going to expect him to insert the scene from Scary Movie of Shawn Wayans saying "But wait! There's more!"

Kudos to you for using music from Transport Tycoon from 1:25 :)

haha, the 'complicated' easteregg is great!!! I love that you hide musical jokes in your videos c:

Another cracking soundtrack by Tim.

Tim, your videos are a delight, I'm a Belgian living in Ostbelgien, and I love for you to show me all these things around my area like it's something out of this world. Great videos !!!

When I travel by TGV from Strasbourg to the non-Alsace part of France, the train goes through a similar crossover. But sorry, no crazy story there: in Alsace, trains run on the right because it used to be part of the German railway system.

props for music choice! unexpected nostalgia hit.

I think I have learned more interesting and fun facts from watching these videos than I have anyplace else!

To be honest: I never expected to have my knowledge be useful. Thanks for mentioning me and yes: the Charleroi regional network has a lot more stories to tell 😅

All i could think when i saw you zoom in on the crossover was: Wot on Earth is _that?_ And what kind of _clearly RIDICULOUS_ backstory gave rise to it?

😂🤣😂 Great video Tim you really have to love bureaucracy. This one gave me a headache. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Fantastic piano cover selection, as always