National railway operator SNCB will reform its fares. This will make train travel throughout the country cheaper during off-peak hours and on weekends, VRT NWS reported.
SNCB's board of directors has decided that the company will review its fare system, possibly before the end of the year. Marc Huybrechts, SNCB's Director of Customer Services said 75 to 80% of travellers will pay less or the same, Belga News Agency Reported.
Broadly speaking, travelling during the weekend and off-peak hours – (peak hours fall between 06:00 and 09:00 in the morning and 16:00 and 18:00 in the evening on weekdays) – will become cheaper.
Adults aged 26 to 64 can purchase an extended weekend ticket with a 30% discount, which unlike the current weekend rate will also be valid for a single journey. Smaller groups of four people will be able to enjoy a 40% discount during off-peak hours and on weekends.
Passengers who buy a discount card costing €6 per month (or for an annual rate of €48) will also be able to enjoy a 40% discount during weekends or outside of rush hours. Holders of such a discount card will pay a maximum of €14 for a single train journey during rush hour. The company hopes at least one million people in Belgium will buy such a card, either monthly or annually. It can be bought digitally and physically.
Even without the discount card, the maximum price for a single journey will go down. This is because the maximum price will be calculated based on a maximum travelling distance of 120 kilometres, instead of the current 150 kilometres. Passengers will save 20% on rates for long distances. The maximum price will drop from the current €26 to €20.90.
The ten-journey Local Multi, Standard Multi and Youth Multi tickets will be discontinued.
Further discounts for certain groups
For the elderly (65 years and older), young people (up to 26) and lower-income households, the flat, reduced rates which currently apply will be replaced. Instead, fares will be calculated based on distance. This is advantageous for those who often travel short distances, as they pay quite a bit more under the current rate structure.
For these groups, a basic discount of 40% will be applied, regardless of the time of travel or the route. Meanwhile, the discount is no longer tied to off-peak hours or the weekend. Those with a discount card – which for them will cost €4 per month (or €32 when paying for the full year) – will receive an additional 40% discount. People in these groups will pay a maximum of €5.50 for a single train journey.
Huybrechts thinks that the new rates could yield 5 to 10% more travellers. SNCB aims to transport 30% more passengers by 2032, as stipulated in the management agreement between the company and the government. The company increased many of its fares by around 3% at the start of this month.
