Diegem lies on the Brussels–Leuven–Liège railway (line 36). The Brussels–Leuven line was built in the 1860s; the first steam train through Diegem is recorded on 17 December 1868. The station building was completed in 1904, with a level crossing; the line was electrified in 1954.
The extension to four tracks from 1971 brought major works: a 300-metre bridge over the Woluwelaan (1972) and a new tunnel under the Mommaertslaan, slid under the tracks on 25 May 1973. The old station, on its mound between Van der Aastraat and Tenaertslaan, was demolished. The new station (26 × 10 m) was built in 1974 and came into use in spring 1975.
Old postcards show the station square with cafés such as the ‘Café de la Gare’ and ‘Au repos des voyageurs’ (early 20th century).
Bridges, a tunnel and a new station
The first steam train passed through Diegem on 17 December 1868, two days after the official opening of the line. In 1952 the aldermen decided to replace the level crossing at the station with a tunnel. When the line was widened to four tracks from 1971, nearly all the bridges were too narrow, the tunnels too short and the stations too close to the track. The old station on its little hill was demolished; in 1974 a new station, 26 by 10 metres, was built 15 metres further on and came into use in spring 1975.
The work on the railway bridge in the Kosterstraat caused bad blood in 1973-1974. For months the residents of the Drielinden district had to make a detour of about 2 kilometres, and the promised temporary bridge never came. Window posters saying ‘We want a temporary bridge!’ hung everywhere; the council meeting was stormed with placards and banners, and after the council chamber was cleared people marched to the Gildezaal for a public meeting. The municipality laid on a free bus service, and at the beginning of August 1974 pedestrians could cross the bridge again.