Trains on the route between Antwerp and Brussels are sometimes so full that people are left behind on the platforms, according to TreinTramBus. The passengers' association has asked Belgium's railway company SNCB to open the international Eurocity Direct to domestic travellers. SNCB says this will not happen.
In December, the number of domestic IC trains on the Antwerp-Brussels line dropped from five to four per hour after SNCB lost space on the track to Eurostar international trains. This caused "major capacity problems," according to TrainTramBus.
"The remaining trains are so full that people are left on the platforms every day. SNCB has made no effort to proactively solve this problem, which it created itself," said TreinTramBus chair Peter Meukens. "Even then, trains cancel last minute or have too few carriages."
TreinTramBus wants SNCB to open the Eurocity Direct (an international train between Brussels and Amsterdam) to domestic passengers immediately, as there is plenty of room on these trains. In addition, the organisation is calling for P-trains to be added during rush hour and overcrowded trains to be reinforced.
Structural solution needed
SNCB said in a response that the only structural solution is an investment in the rail network. "This is the only way to expand its capacity and deploy additional trains where necessary. Now this is not possible because the rail network is saturated in a number of places. However, when the new train offer was being drawn up, we requested train slots for between Antwerp and Brussels from the rail operator to keep all trains, but did not get them."
The use of the Eurocity Direct by domestic passengers was considered, says SNCB, but proved unfeasible for several reasons. "The train only stops at Brussels-Midi and not at Brussels-Central or Brussels-North. So the options for its domestic use are very limited. Moreover, it is an international train, with international train fares. So it is not possible to enable domestic co-use without additional costs for passengers."
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Dendermonde is also having issues as the IC connection between the Waasland and Brussels has been cut, noted TreinTramBus. Travellers from Sint-Niklaas and Lokeren therefore have to transfer again in Dendermonde. But due to delays, they do not always make this connection, resulting in at least half an hour more of travel time.
SNCB says it is willing to talk to TreinTramBus. The company does believe it will attract new travellers, partly thanks to the global expansion of its offer.
