Brussels tram route 3

The premetro and tram route 3, is a tram route operated by STIB/MIVB, which connects connects the Esplanade stop (on the borders of Neder-Over-Heembeek, Laeken and Strombeek-Bever) with the Churchill stop in the southern municipality of Uccle. The line is named after the planned Metro line 3, which is set to service most of the current route of tram line 3. The line was temporarily disbanded, but returned in service on 30 June 2008. The colour of the signage for this line is lime-green.

Only tram lines 3 and 4 remain in the North–South Axis that runs underneath the Pentagon (Brussels' city centre) during the daytime. In the evening, the North–South Axis is serviced by tram route 32. Both lines 3 and 4 have a 6-minute schedule during rush hour and are serviced by the modern low-floor trams (Bombardier T3000 and T4000).

History
The line was created on 30 June 2008, replacing tram routes 55 and 56. Together with tram routes 4, 7, 8 and 9, it is one of five 'chrono' lines, which means that it is served by low-floor high-capacity trams with a high frequency. The low line number chosen for the new line shows that it is either a metro line or a 'chrono' line.

From 31 August 2009, lines 3 and 4 changed their northern termini. Whereas line 3 used to end at Brussels-North railway station, it now continues all the way to Esplanade, while line 4 was shortened to terminate at Brussels-North. Because of this, the very long line 4 and the short line 3 are now equalised.

Before the line was taken out of service for a while, the line was serviced by both the modern low-floor trams (the T3000 and T4000), as well as the older two-part PCC-trams (T7700 and T7800). After its return in 2008, the line is serviced by the modern low-floor trams only, mostly of the T4000 type.

Route
The route runs from Esplanade to De Wand along the N276, then follows the R21 to Van Praet, where it crosses the Brussels Canal. The route then follows the N201 along the southern side of the canal to Jules de Trooz, before cutting towards the city centre along the Avenue de la Reine/Koninginnelaan and the Boulevard Adolphe Max/Adolphe Maxlaan, connecting Brussels-North and Brussels-South stations, via Bourse - Grand-Place/Beurs - Grote Markt. The route leaves the city to the south through Saint-Gilles along the Rue du Lycée/Lyceumstraat and the N241 to its terminus at Churchill.

It serves the following stops:
 * Esplanade, serving the Brussels Exhibition Centre (Brussels Expo) site, close to the border with Flanders
 * De Wand
 * Araucaria
 * Buissonnets/Braambosjes
 * Heembeek
 * Van Praet
 * Docks
 * Mabru
 * Jules de Trooz
 * Masui
 * Thomas
 * Gare du Nord/Noordstation
 * Rogier
 * De Brouckère
 * Bourse - Grand-Place/Beurs - Grote Markt
 * Anneessens
 * Lemonnier
 * Gare du Midi/Zuidstation
 * Porte de Hal/Hallepoort
 * Sint-Gillis Voorplein/Parvis de Saint-Gilles
 * Horta
 * Albert
 * Berkendael/Berkendaal
 * Vanderkindere
 * Churchill