Public transport: Metro 3 North compromised, Infrabel €57.8M, STIB Midi 1 year

Metro 3 under the North Station: compromised (23 April 2026 hearing)

The 18th hearing of the Brussels Parliament's Special Metro 3 Commission (23 April 2026) heard Henri Ernst, CEO of Galère SRL (SM Progrès consortium appointed by Beliris): "We assume there is little chance the project [under the North Station] will proceed." Beliris has refocused the consortium's mission on surface urban planning around the station — no longer the underground cavity.

A new V.E.R.T. technique would require +€75.119M on top of the €22.56M already spent, with no feasibility guarantee. The site has been idle for several years and SM Progrès teams have left. The northern branch of Metro 3 (Bordet via tunnel connected to the North Station cavity) is suspended beyond even the 10-year freeze set in the RPD.

See the cross-cutting dossier: Metro 3.

Sources: BRUZZ Urbanism, La DH Bruxelles (23 April 2026).

Infrabel: €57.8M for 7 accessible stations (24 April 2026)

The federal Council of Ministers approved on 24 April 2026 an amendment to Infrabel's 2023-2032 multi-year plan: €57.8M to raise platforms and improve access at the 7 stations Brussels-South (Midi), Etterbeek, Schaerbeek, Haren-South, Uccle-Stalle, Forest-East, Bordet. Funding from postponing Rail Ghent-Terneuzen and other accessibility projects (starting 2030+).

Sources: BRUZZ, BX1 (24 April 2026).

STIB — Brussels-South: tram interruption for 1 year (from 27 April 2026)

STIB worksite from 27 April 2026 to end April 2027 in the tunnel under Place Bara (trams 4 and 10). Reason: replacement of a 40-year-old concrete slab. Impact: tram 4 interrupted between Brussels-South and Porte de Hal (rerouted via line 82 to Wiels); tram 10 suspended between Brussels-South and Churchill; tram 51 at new terminus Lemonnier; tram 81 affected. Alternatives: metro 2/6, bus 48, walking (5 min Brussels-South – Porte de Hal).

Source: La Libre (23 April 2026).

STIB — end of Taxibus PRM minibus service (2027)

On 17 March 2026, the Mobility Minister confirmed in a Brussels Parliament committee the non-renewal of the 12-minibus Taxibus fleet and the transition to private taxis by late 2027. The minibuses will be removed by 2028 (LEZ non-compliance). Estimated cost for users: €2 → €5-8 per trip. The PRM grant rises from €4.7 to €6.7M/year (+€2M), but the renewal cost (€4.5M) is deemed unfundable.

See the dossier: PRM accessibility.

Brussels Airport — CAE closes pilot training centre (April 2026)

Canadian aviation training company CAE has announced the closure of its pilot training centre at Brussels Airport (Steenokkerzeel) by the end of 2026. 22 jobs out of 27 are at risk. Legal consultation procedure started on 8 April 2026. Reason: cost structure exceeding revenue, outdated simulators, declining demand.

Source: BRUZZ Economy (21 April 2026).

Coalition agreement: structuring decisions (recap)

• Metro 3 frozen for 10 years in favour of a tram completing the loop
• New Regional Mobility Plan in preparation (Good Move evaluation completed end 2026, new plan in force 2030)
• Tram 15 (Brussels-North – Tour & Taxis) maintained
• LEZ maintained: annual pass €350 (social €200), Euro 5 diesel fines postponed (no earlier than July 2026)
• STIB fares preferential rates for youth/seniors maintained
• Bollards removed
• 2nd car-free Sunday per year

Shared mobility

The Region has approximately 15,700 shared free-floating vehicles (e-scooters and bikes). The Villo! concession (360 stations) expires in September 2026 with no identified successor. Bolt launched 1,200 new e-scooters "Bolt7" in Brussels in April 2026.