Tram route 9 is a route in the Antwerp tram network, operated by De Lijn, connecting the Silsburg neighborhood in Borsbeek (via Deurne) with P+R Linkeroever on the left bank of the Scheldt, using the Antwerp premetro network between Plantin and Van Eeden stations.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Locale | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Termini | P+R Linkeroever (west), Silsburg (east) |
| Stations | 26 |
| Color on map | White text on orange background |
| Type | Tram |
| System | Antwerp tram network |
| Operator(s) | De Lijn |
| Rolling stock | HermeLijn, Albatros, PCC (coupled) |
| Opened | September 1, 2012 (present-day route) |
Route
Tram route 9 runs from P+R Linkeroever on the left bank of the Scheldt, crossing the river via the premetro Brabotunnel. It passes through the premetro stations Van Eeden, Groenplaats, Meir, Opera, and Diamant, then continues above ground via Plantin, Zurenborg, Cuperus, and Berchem railway station. From Berchem, it continues east through Borgerhout and Deurne (via stops including Groenenhoek, Apollo, De Preter, Te Boelaarpark, Cruyslei, Jozef Verboven, Eksterlaar, Florent Pauwels) to its eastern terminus at Silsburg in Borsbeek.
The route uses the premetro southern branch (stations Plantin, Diamant) and western branch (stations Opera, Meir, Groenplaats, Van Eeden).
History
Historic route (until 1953)
The first tram route 9 originally operated between the Van Schoonbekeplein, near the Eilandje neighborhood, and Antwerpen-Berchem station, using a trajectory via Meirbrug, the Stadspark, and Dageraadplaats. In 1953, the tram tracks were removed and the route was replaced by bus route 9, following the same itinerary. Later, bus route 9 was extended from Berchem station to the Fruithoflaan in Berchem.
Present-day route (2012–present)
On September 1, 2012, the new tram route 9 was officially opened on the Linkeroever–Eksterlaar trajectory as part of a large-scale redrawing of the Antwerp public transport network. The new route replaced tram route 11 on the Eksterlaar–Berchem station section and introduced a new premetro connection between Berchem and Linkeroever. Between Berchem station and Plantin premetro station, the route uses a part of the tram network and a premetro entrance that had previously only been used by trams running between their depot and other lines, although it had been temporarily used in 1988 by route 8 and in the 1990s by route 11 due to construction works.
A new tram stop named Zurenborg was built along this trajectory, located in the Art Nouveau Zurenborg neighborhood. This stop is the only one in the entire Antwerp tram network that uses an island platform. Because trams in Antwerp generally only have doors on the right side, trams on route 9 drive on the left side of the road when stopping at this platform.
On January 8, 2018, tram 9 was extended from Eksterlaar to Silsburg, replacing tram route 4 on that section. On March 19, 2018, the Cuperus stop was opened as a temporary stop.
From September 1, 2016, to December 7, 2019, the route did not stop at Opera station, which was being converted into a cross-platform interchange station.
On January 17, 2022, the stop "P+R Linkeroever" was renamed to "Regatta" (with a turning loop for tram 15), and the former "Schep Vreugde" stop became the new "P+R Linkeroever" (with turning loops for trams 5 and 9).
Since November 7, 2022, tram route 9 has been extended to Silsburg, taking over the trajectory between Berchem station and Silsburg from tram route 4.
Recent changes (2025–2026)
Since November 1, 2025, due to track renewal works between Groenenhoek and Silsburg, tram route 9 has been shortened to run only between P+R Linkeroever and Berchem Station (Groenenhoek turning loop). Shuttle buses (line P9) operate between Berchem Station and Silsburg. The track works are expected to continue until at least spring 2027.
During the premetro renovation works starting May 4, 2026, tram 9 will be temporarily replaced between Berchem Station and Diamant by temporary tram line A9 (Wijnegem Fortveld – Berchem Station), and on the Diamant–Linkeroever section by bus line P5.
Rolling stock
Most trams on route 9 are of the HermeLijn type or the five-section Albatros type. Older coupled PCC cars can still occasionally be seen on the route.
Ridership
In 2015, tram route 9 carried 10,132,167 passengers. In 2024, it carried 8,150,647 passengers.
Future plans
There are plans to extend tram route 9 from Silsburg further along the Herentalsebaan to the Hulgenrode stop in Wommelgem. A previously proposed "Plan 2021" to create a line M9 with a modified route was postponed pending the delivery of sufficient new trams.
