About

A daily life disrupted by disproportionate noise and vibrations

Since the summer of 2021, thousands of residents along metro lines 1 and 5 of the STIB-MIVB in Brussels have been experiencing excessive noise and vibrations caused by the premature wear of the wheels on the new M7 metro trains, resulting from manufacturing defects. The intense noise penetrates homes, and the vibrations make walls shake, even causing objects to move.

The metro operates daily from 5 am to 1 am, meaning 20 hours out of 24. This leaves barely four hours of daily respite, which is far from sufficient to ensure restful sleep. Even the Minister of Mobility acknowledges that the disturbances are disproportionate: occasional metro noise might be acceptable, but the current intensity makes the situation unbearable.

You are not alone: these disturbances affect many people

If you are experiencing these disturbances, know that many other residents are facing exactly the same situation. These disturbances affect the quality of life and health of thousands of people. Entire families, including elderly people and children, suffer from fatigue, stress, and difficulty living under these conditions.

The noise and vibration levels regularly exceed recommended standards (DIN 4150-2), both day and night. Brussels Environment (IBGE) has received a large number of complaints about this nuisance. Legal proceedings have been initiated by Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and local residents. A court-appointed expert assessment was conducted and, in June 2026, an interim agreement imposed traffic restrictions, rail grinding and regular monitoring. Etterbeek has also authorised legal action and appointed a lawyer, while residents of other municipalities, including Anderlecht, continue to report significant nuisance. All of this shows that the problem is widespread.

Frequently asked questions

"The metro inevitably makes noise, shouldn't residents expect that?"

No. Living near a metro means accepting a reasonable and predictable level of noise. However, the current disturbances are due to technical defects in the M7 trains introduced in 2021. These problems are new and unexpected. The current disturbances are unacceptable due to both their frequency and intensity.

"If this were a real problem, wouldn't it be widely known?"

Yes, the problem is real and well known. The Minister of Mobility has admitted that the disturbances are disproportionate. The STIB-MIVB itself acknowledges the issue and has implemented measures without definitively resolving the problem. The media is covering the situation (see Links: Press).

"Is the problem really that serious?"

Yes. The problem affects thousands metro residents, spread across half of the city's municipalities: Anderlecht, Auderghem, Brussels-City, Etterbeek, Koekelberg, Molenbeek, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. The noise and vibrations are so intense that some residents feel as if they are living inside a metro station. This leads to sleep problems, anxiety, and chronic stress. Additionally, some residents fear for the structural integrity of their buildings.

"Can't you just adapt to it?"

No. Unlike airborne noise, structure-borne noise, which comes from vibrations transmitted through buildings, cannot be mitigated with acoustic panels or simple solutions. Additionally, the vibrations propagate through building foundations, making walls shake and objects move.

To truly isolate homes, each affected building's foundation would need to be redesigned and physically insulated, which is technically and financially unrealistic. Therefore, the issue must be addressed at its source, within the metro system itself.

"Who is responsible?"

The STIB-MIVB is directly responsible, as its M7 trains have a manufacturing defect that causes wheel ovalization. This problem not only generates noise and vibrations but also leads to abnormal rail wear. As the rails degrade, they further accelerate wheel wear, creating a vicious cycle that worsens the disturbances and deteriorates metro infrastructure.

"Has the STIB-MIVB attempted to solve the problem?"

The STIB-MIVB has taken various measures, including rail grinding, wheel reprofiling and the replacement of some wheels identified as problematic. Despite these interventions, the nuisance remains excessive for many local residents.

"What solutions do you propose?"

It is not up to us to solve this problem. As residents, we are neither specialised engineers nor the cause of this situation. The STIB-MIVB has both the responsibility and the means to implement effective solutions.

"What about political leaders?"

The regional authorities are responsible for overseeing the STIB-MIVB. They have signed agreements with the transport company, but these agreements are mere promises without legally binding enforcement. Despite repeated complaints, the Region still refuses to impose strict regulations to protect residents.

STIB-MIVB's actions: insufficient efforts

The STIB-MIVB has identified the causes of the nuisance: technical defects in the M7 wheels (ovalisation). The premature wear is reportedly due to a poor choice of materials.

Measures have been implemented, but they remain insufficient:

• Rail grinding: its limited and temporary effect wears off well before the next intervention.
• Wheel reprofiling: differences persist between trains, this measure does not work for the entire fleet, and it is not a long-term solution.
• Suspension tests: no impact, as acknowledged by the STIB-MIVB itself.

In July 2025, the STIB-MIVB announced the manufacture and installation of new wheels, expressing "good hope" of improvements "from summer 2026".

In October 2025, the STIB-MIVB replaces the prospect of improvements "from summer 2026" with "during 2026".

The STIB-MIVB plans to complete the replacement of 32 bogies by the end of September 2026. Despite the progress of this programme, residents have not observed any significant overall improvement: when normal service frequency resumed at the end of August, a marked increase in nuisance was once again reported. This raises an essential question: are the new wheels sufficient to solve the problem in the long term?

Public transparency also remains insufficient: the data provided as part of the legal proceedings are not published regularly or made easily accessible to residents.

Replacing the remaining wheels will take several more years. In the meantime, residents continue to endure the nuisance.

The responsibility of regional authorities

Metro nuisance is not just a technical issue; it also reflects a political failure. The Mobility Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region has the power to impose binding regulations on the STIB-MIVB, but she refuses to do so despite repeated requests from residents and members of the Brussels Parliament.

The authorities continue to adopt non-binding agreements and plans that have no real impact on reducing disturbances (see Links: Brussels Region Plans and Agreements). These documents, often presented as progress, are actually just vague commitments without sanctions or obligations for the STIB-MIVB. Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer from unacceptable levels of noise and vibrations daily, without effective measures being taken. This inaction demonstrates a lack of political will to truly protect citizens' quality of life from the failures of an unchecked public operator.

Together, let's make a change

Metro disturbances are not inevitable. The STIB-MIVB and political leaders must take responsibility. This citizen initiative aims to defend residents' rights and push for lasting solutions. Join us in making our voices heard and achieve real change.