Tram route 1 has already existed in the past from September 2, 1902 until July 14, 1965, running on a comparable North-South trajectory as the current line, between the Antwerpen-Zuid passenger railway station and Antwerpen-Dokken en -Stapelplaatsen cargo station.

Today, bus lines 1 and 13 have incorporated the previous itinerary of tram route 1 in their trajectory.

[1] As a part of the Brabo II and Noorderlijn plans, the new tram route 1 was officially opened on 8 December 2019, following the Bolivarplaats-Havana site trajectory.

[2] The creation of the tram route formed a part of the Noorderlijn ('northern line') construction works, which included the building of new tram tracks in the northern half of the Leien, as well as in the Noorderlaan further north and in the connecting streets.

[3] Historically, tram route 1 was identified by a black number on a white background.