Belgium Overhauls Fare System to Make Train Travel Cheaper
Belgium has overhauled its rail fare system to make train travel cheaper for as many as 80% of passengers across the country.
Changes to Belgian train fares
NMBS/SNCB, Belgium’s national railway company, has introduced a new fare system that represents the most significant change to ticketing in 30 years.
According to Marc Huybrechts, Director of Customer Services at NMBS/SNCB, “the average fare will decrease, particularly during off-peak hours for passengers who travel frequently by train”.
The new fare system is also designed to address certain inconsistencies, since some special tickets for young people or seniors were not always the cheapest available options for their journeys.
Under the old system, Belgium also made no distinction between peak and off-peak trains, as both were priced the same.
Under the new system, peak hours will be from 06:00 to 09:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays.
The new fare system is intended to make everything clearer, as all fares will be calculated based on the distance travelled, with a maximum fare that is capped at €20.90, which is lower than the previous maximum of €26.
Seniors (65 and over), youths (under 26) and certain recipients of social benefits will automatically receive a 40% reduction on the price of a standard ticket.
One adult can take up to four children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, without having to buy tickets for the children.
According to NMBS/SNCB, 80% of current passengers will end up paying less, with the company hoping to offset the initial drop in ticket revenue through a rise in passenger numbers over the next few years.
Liège-Guillemins railway station. ©AndyBTravels
Introduction of Train+ card
Another change to Belgium’s fare system is the introduction of the Train+ discount card, which offers passengers a lower capped fare per journey, regardless of the hour of travel or distance travelled.
The card also provides additional discounts during off-peak hours and at weekends.
A Train+ card is personalised and it and cannot be transferred to anyone else.
The Train+ costs €6 per month, or €48 annually, with youths, seniors and recipients of social benefits paying €4 per month or €32 per year for the card.
Criticism
Not everyone is pleased with the new Belgian fare system.
Peter Meukens, president of the Flemish public transport users’ association TreinTramBus, has warned that the new fare system is “much more complex than anticipated”.
The association cautioned that the new system still contains certain complexities, particularly concerning the distinction between peak and off-peak hours.
As an example, it pointed to a northbound train departing Brussels around the peak hour cut-off time, where passengers boarding at Brussels-South might still be charged the higher peak fare, while those boarding the same train just a few minutes later at Brussels-Central would pay the off-peak fare.
It also found the rules on how discounts can be combined and how fares are calculated to be complex.
However, Mr Meukens acknowledged the advantage of the new Train+ card, noting that “if you take the train regularly, you’ll benefit from it”.
Brussels-South railway station. ©AndyBTravels
Conclusion
NMBS/SNCB, the national railway company of Belgium, has introduced a new fare system that is said to lower train ticket costs for 80% of all passengers.
The rail company has also introduced a new personalised Train+ discount card, which will offer additional fare reductions to monthly and yearly subscribers.
