Out of love for the tram (and the bus)
The events marking the retirement of the PCC are organised by and for tram enthusiasts. In Flanders, they are represented by META vzw: Mobility Heritage Tram and Bus. META vzw aims to preserve, manage, and present the rich history and associated heritage of urban and regional public transportation to the general public.
META vzw can count on the support of De Lijn and its six affiliated member associations. These associations consist entirely of volunteer tram and bus enthusiasts who are dedicated to the active preservation of tram and bus heritage in Flanders. In addition, there are many volunteers affiliated directly with META. Thanks to these enthusiasts, we still have a beautiful and representative collection of some 200 trams and buses in Flanders.
The following volunteer associations are part of the META umbrella:
- VlaTAM: The Flemish Tram and Bus Museum is located in a listed tram depot in Antwerp-Berchem. The association is mainly focused on museum activities.
- Buurtspoorwegmuseum Schepdaal: Schepdaal is home to Belgium's only fully preserved local tramway station. Volunteers open the museum site to the public and carry out structural restoration work on various vehicles.
- Depot 145: This Limburg-based non-profit association manages and restores historic buses. The focus of the association is on bus equipment originating from the eastern part of Flanders.
- ETG vzw: This association restores, maintains and operates De Lijn's historic Ghent trams.
- NostalBus: This Bus Heritage Society focuses on the west of Flanders. NostalBus preserves several buses from 1977-1991 and holds several buses from De Lijn's collection.
- TTO-Noordzee vzw: This Tram Heritage Association maintains and operates the historic trams of De Lijn on the Coast.
