That included building the tunnels, viaducts and stations and contracting for the operation. In 1897 the city council chose the General Traction Company, owned by the Belgian Baron Édouard Louis Joseph Empain.
This initiative involved building essential infrastructure such as tunnels, bridges, and train stations, while also finding a contractor to manage the operation. The decision was made in 1897 when the city council selected the General Traction Company, led by Belgian Baron Édouard Louis Joseph Empain, to lead this ambitious project.