This is why Brussels celebrates its "tramiversary"

The Belgian capital laid on a parade of around 40 historic trams to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its transport system. Jon Stone was there and fascinated

Exactly 150 years ago, on 1 May 1869, the first tram rolled down a Brussels street, pulled by horses. In many ways, the Belgian capital was just catching up: neighbouring Paris and London had already seen their tram networks explode in size over the previous decade.

But what would make the story of Brussels’ streets more unusual is that unlike most of its neighbours, it would never get rid of its trams.

Most cities would rip out their tracks by the mid 20th century, complaining that rails and wires belonged in another era and should make way for ever more cars. Not so in Brussels – and today the city is frankly probably better off for it, with a head start on other places rushing to rebuild their networks after realising their mistake.

That unbroken 150 years of history was on display in the Belgian capital on Wednesday – a public holiday – as the city, in a fit of municipal pride, laid on a parade through the centre of town featuring about 40 historic trams, from the earliest horse-drawn vehicles, to the futuristic light rail vehicles of today.

The parade kicks off five – yes five – days of celebrations for the tramiversary, culminating in a tram driving championship. Cities from Krakow to Malaga are sending drivers. Other attractions include special tram tours of the city (in French, Dutch, and English – because this is bilingual, international Brussels) and the unveiling of a new uniform for public transport workers created by celebrated fashion designer Olivier Strelli.

If this sounds boring or weird, thousands of Belgians would disagree with you – as would The Independent. Wednesday’s tram parade was genuinely fascinating, and huge crowds turned up to watch the evolution of the vehicles on parade, most of which are normally preserved at the city’s tram museum. (Its better known counterpart, Train World, is the top-rated museum in the entire city on TripAdvisor – in a capital renowned for having dozens of fantastic museums.)

The attention to detail that the city’s transit authority had put into the spectacle was huge – most trams had passengers and attendants wearing period costume. A handy guide handed out to the crowd for free gave more details about what was going past.

The trams rolling rolling past gradually changed from horses to electric-powered; liveries varied, then settled on a smart dark green, then moved the yellow more familiar to today’s Bruxellois. The ornate 1870s dresses of the passengers transformed into and flicked through the fashions of the 20th century. Anyone with a passing interest in history – transport or not – would have been transfixed.

Some countries still parade their militaries around, as if it makes them a nice place to live. But perhaps if more places, like Belgium, took the same pride in their public transport, the world would be a better place for us all.