The shadow line of the Charleroi metro, called M5, will be put into service in August 2026. It will complete the network consisting of four routes. A network that a Spaniard from the Basque Country visited in December 2020.
“The metro in Charleroi is really special. First of all, it is called a ‘metro’, but it is not a metro. It’s just a tram with some tunnels and special tracks. The Germans would call it a ‘Stadtbahn’. In English, it is a ‘light rail transit’. What I find fascinating about the Charleroi metro is how huge the original project was and how it was drastically reduced when parts of the original plans were already built.
I find the contrast between the ambitious layouts of the 70s and the decadence of the 80s and 90s really interesting. OK, it may not be the most beautiful metro, but it is interesting. Plus, it runs through some nice industrial areas… It’s not common to find metros in Western Europe in such environments. It’s quite unique,” says Adrian Fuentes Arevalo.
On his Twitter account, he notes another peculiarity: “The height of the platforms of the Charleroi metro is 55 centimetres. This is unique in the world. It was a decision that took into consideration the size of the old SNCV trams reserved for the metro. It’s quite funny that in the 1960s, money was set aside for infrastructure, but not for new trams.
Many trips
Adrian Fuentes Arevalo is a true train and public transport enthusiast. He has already visited more than 30 metros: “Most of them in Europe. But when I travel somewhere, I always spend some time exploring trams, metros and trains.
He remembers several trips: “I like special metros, which are not identical, with identical trains or stations. I also tend to like older metros even if they are more uncomfortable. They have more charm. The metro in Paris is really historic. In Berlin, the metro was shaped by the division of the city… In Prague, Bucharest or Kiev, you can still feel the communist era when you walk through the metro corridors.
A consuming passion
His passion dates back to his childhood: “My grandparents lived near a railway line. I remember very well that when I was a little boy, my grandfather wanted to take me to the track to see the trains go by. Since then I have had an interest in all kinds of public transport. I can’t really explain why, but it’s a subject I find super interesting. I read maps of places I’ve never been to or I scan new cities by tram.
Carolo Insecurity
He is therefore particularly well placed to judge Charleroi’s light rail system. And after outlining its advantages, he exposes its disadvantages: “Some stations are completely scary. There was a total feeling of insecurity. It’s not reassuring to wait ten or 15 minutes with homeless people or people who take drugs on the platforms.
However, several initiatives are being taken by the Charleroi Public Transport (TEC) to combat any threat. “In addition to the intervention of our security service, we work closely with the police, we carry out joint TEC/police control actions in the stations and very recently, there was an agreement with the City so that peacekeepers can circulate on the network”, says the Commercial Operational Director and spokesperson for Transport En Commun (TEC) Charleroi, Véronique Benoît.
Two problematic stops
On Twitter, Adrian Fuentes Arevalo mentions the two stops that made a bad impression on him: Beaux-Arts and Waterloo. What’s more, they are both located in the city centre.
Regarding the Beaux-Arts station, he writes: “The day I was there, there were more homeless people on the platform than metro users. It was dirty and drugs were present. Not pleasant at all.
As for Waterloo station, he says: “I’ve been to many metro stations all over Europe. This is probably the only one I was grateful to have left. A completely scary place. Dirty, poorly lit, homeless, fighting, drugs. Add to that a confusing organisation of journeys!”
Classic response from the officials: “We’re doing this and this and that.” OK… And? It’s clearly not enough.
> On the day I was there, there were more homeless people on the platform than actual metro users. Dirty and drugs. Not nice, at all.
Not going to romanticize the problems of a place like Charleroi, but I do feel he tries to oversell the Skid Row angle. One picture he posted had four people in it, another one has no people in it. Fine, you don’t want to draw the attention of the homeless and the substance abusers by shoving a camera in their face, I get that. But still it’s not like a 100 upstanding townsfolk were getting terrorized by a rampaging army of 120 homeless dope fiends. Now watch me get downvoted for suggesting Charleroi is not the real-life Cannibal Holocaust N-VA voters are convinced it is.
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The shadow line of the Charleroi metro, called M5, will be put into service in August 2026. It will complete the network consisting of four routes. A network that a Spaniard from the Basque Country visited in December 2020.
“The metro in Charleroi is really special. First of all, it is called a ‘metro’, but it is not a metro. It’s just a tram with some tunnels and special tracks. The Germans would call it a ‘Stadtbahn’. In English, it is a ‘light rail transit’. What I find fascinating about the Charleroi metro is how huge the original project was and how it was drastically reduced when parts of the original plans were already built.
I find the contrast between the ambitious layouts of the 70s and the decadence of the 80s and 90s really interesting. OK, it may not be the most beautiful metro, but it is interesting. Plus, it runs through some nice industrial areas… It’s not common to find metros in Western Europe in such environments. It’s quite unique,” says Adrian Fuentes Arevalo.
On his Twitter account, he notes another peculiarity: “The height of the platforms of the Charleroi metro is 55 centimetres. This is unique in the world. It was a decision that took into consideration the size of the old SNCV trams reserved for the metro. It’s quite funny that in the 1960s, money was set aside for infrastructure, but not for new trams.
Many trips
Adrian Fuentes Arevalo is a true train and public transport enthusiast. He has already visited more than 30 metros: “Most of them in Europe. But when I travel somewhere, I always spend some time exploring trams, metros and trains.
He remembers several trips: “I like special metros, which are not identical, with identical trains or stations. I also tend to like older metros even if they are more uncomfortable. They have more charm. The metro in Paris is really historic. In Berlin, the metro was shaped by the division of the city… In Prague, Bucharest or Kiev, you can still feel the communist era when you walk through the metro corridors.
A consuming passion
His passion dates back to his childhood: “My grandparents lived near a railway line. I remember very well that when I was a little boy, my grandfather wanted to take me to the track to see the trains go by. Since then I have had an interest in all kinds of public transport. I can’t really explain why, but it’s a subject I find super interesting. I read maps of places I’ve never been to or I scan new cities by tram.
Carolo Insecurity
He is therefore particularly well placed to judge Charleroi’s light rail system. And after outlining its advantages, he exposes its disadvantages: “Some stations are completely scary. There was a total feeling of insecurity. It’s not reassuring to wait ten or 15 minutes with homeless people or people who take drugs on the platforms.
However, several initiatives are being taken by the Charleroi Public Transport (TEC) to combat any threat. “In addition to the intervention of our security service, we work closely with the police, we carry out joint TEC/police control actions in the stations and very recently, there was an agreement with the City so that peacekeepers can circulate on the network”, says the Commercial Operational Director and spokesperson for Transport En Commun (TEC) Charleroi, Véronique Benoît.
Two problematic stops
On Twitter, Adrian Fuentes Arevalo mentions the two stops that made a bad impression on him: Beaux-Arts and Waterloo. What’s more, they are both located in the city centre.
Regarding the Beaux-Arts station, he writes: “The day I was there, there were more homeless people on the platform than metro users. It was dirty and drugs were present. Not pleasant at all.
As for Waterloo station, he says: “I’ve been to many metro stations all over Europe. This is probably the only one I was grateful to have left. A completely scary place. Dirty, poorly lit, homeless, fighting, drugs. Add to that a confusing organisation of journeys!”
Classic response from the officials: “We’re doing this and this and that.” OK… And? It’s clearly not enough.
Is he describing the metro or just Charleroi?
His Twitter thread:
https://twitter.com/fuenareva/status/1483930793613398019
Why is there no connection to the airport?
> On the day I was there, there were more homeless people on the platform than actual metro users. Dirty and drugs. Not nice, at all.
Not going to romanticize the problems of a place like Charleroi, but I do feel he tries to oversell the Skid Row angle. One picture he posted had four people in it, another one has no people in it. Fine, you don’t want to draw the attention of the homeless and the substance abusers by shoving a camera in their face, I get that. But still it’s not like a 100 upstanding townsfolk were getting terrorized by a rampaging army of 120 homeless dope fiends. Now watch me get downvoted for suggesting Charleroi is not the real-life Cannibal Holocaust N-VA voters are convinced it is.
I love the architecture though