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This is one of a series devoted to photographs of Antwerp tramways. This page shows images of the individual trams. Page 2 shows Antwerp Tram Routes.

HermeLijn (Ermine) is the nickname of a number of series of low-floor trams of the Flemish transport company De Lijn , serving on the tram networks of Antwerp , Ghent and (especially in summer) on the Flemish coast tram line

Deliveries of HermeLijn trams began in1999 introducing low-floor vehicles to Antwerp. There are four series of HermaLijn: 1, 2A, 2B and 3. The first series of 31 trams (7201-7231) came into service in 1999-2000. They included fourteen trams for Ghent. The second series 2B was for Brussels 2000 .  They are 29.60 meters long and 2.30 meters 10 centimetres wider than the PCCs. All HermeLijnes have an automatic notification of the next stop and the destination.

In 2004 another series of 30 trams (7232-7261) were deployed, followed much later by ten additional trams (7262-7271). The last six of these had a cab which took up the entire width of the tram. One of these trams was permanently resident on the coastal tram . In summer, usually five additional trams temporarily transfer to the coast to reinforce the summer services.

In November 2009 the last option of the contract was taken up and a third series of 13 trams (7272-7284) were ordered. This series has reverted to a cab that covers only a portion of the front of the tram. The most striking difference from the previous series is the presence of LED screens instead of films line to indicate the line and destination. The trams were delivered in2012.

The HermeLijn trams are mainly used on lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 15. On lines 3, 5 and 15, the latest HermeLijn sets are used, equipped with extra facilities for wheelchair users.

On Monday 6 August 2012 De Lijn announced that it had placed an order for 48 trams with the rolling stock manufacturer Bombardier Transportation, for Flexity 2 trams. The trams are known as Albatros. 38 Albatros trams are destined for Antwerp , the other 10 for Ghent . Ten of the new Antwerp trams have a length of more than 40 meters, they are deployed on line 15 and on line 3 . They can accommodate a total of 380 people, including 68 in seats and 40 folding seats. The other 28 shorter trams will be purchased make up the material shortage caused by the tram extensions to Wijnegem and Boechout. These trams can accommodate a total of 266 persons, of which 54 to 22 seats and on folding seats. The first new trams were from May 2015 in Antwerp delivered. The first long Albatrosses operate from November 2015 in regular services on tram line 15 . The short Albatrosses came into service in 2016, first on lines 4 and 10.

De Line also announced that a follow-up order for Antwerp consists of a further 10 short and 14 long trams. This order was on 8 May 2015 did. They will come into service in 2017. The long trams will not be used on line 3. The older PCC trams are mainly during rush hour and some are partially decommissioned.

7330

Flexity 2 'Albatros' De Lijn tram in Antwerp Milkmarkt
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 9th March 2017

7335

Flexity 2 'Albatros' De Lijn tram in Antwerp Milkmarkt
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 9th March 2017

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