Work begins on major Brussels park-and-ride project

Building work has begun on a vast park-and-ride facility in Anderlecht that aims to encourage 1,200 drivers a day to leave their cars and take the metro into town.

Mobility minister Pascal Smet and Anderlecht mayor Eric Tomas laid the first stone on Monday for the €14 million project next to Ceria metro station.

Spread over 30,000m², the Anderlecht site is due to open in a year's time, with room for 1,200 cars and 270 motorbikes. There will also be priority parking spaces for car-poolers and electric vehicles.

Prices will be set by the regional body Parking.brussels - and Stib ticket-holders will be offered a preferential rate.

Smet said the aim was to build a new park-and-ride facility every year until 10,000 spaces are available on the edge of the city.

Other potential locations include Stalle station in Uccle, Kraainem and Delta metro stations and Esplanade tram terminus in Laeken.