De Lijn has celebrated a major milestone with the introduction of its 1,000th electric bus into active service.
Commemorated alongside the Federation of Belgian Bus and Coach Operators (FBAA); a celebratory event saw attendance from the Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder, Director-General of De Lijn Ann Schoubs, and FBAA CEO Pieter Van Bastelaere.
De Lijn Director-General Ann Schoubs, bus driver Michael Ameye, Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder and FBAA CEO Pieter Van Bastelaere
© De Lijn
With the 1,000th bus now in service, De Lijn has reaffirmed ambitions to offer completely emission-free public transport by 2035, and the electrification of its bus fleet has become one of its largest projects to date.
To achieve its goal; De Lijn will replace all buses serving Flanders with 3,800 electric vehicles, meaning they will not only have to invest in new vehicles, but a full, comprehensive charging infrastructure, energy supply, software, training, and maintenance.
Annick De Ridder , Flemish Minister of Mobility:
The 1,000th electric bus is a clear signal that Flanders is moving forward towards sustainable and future-oriented public transport.
The Flemish Government provided a turbo investment of 400 million euros for the purchase of electric buses. In 2025 alone, De Lijn ordered more than 650 new e-buses, which will enter service in phases over the coming years. In this way, we are making our public transport more modern, reliable, and comfortable for passengers and drivers.
To date, De Lijn’s subcontractors have more than 700 electric buses in service, with that number expected to increase by more than 100% by 2035, with approximately 1,500 electric buses set to be operating on services commissioned by De Lijn.
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