From February 2023, train tickets in Belgium will become up to 9.73% more expensive as national railway company SNCB adjusts its rates to the impact of the sharp rises in inflation and energy prices, the company announced on Friday.
The SNCB's rates are adjusted annually in February based on the annual evolution of the health index (the consumer price index without alcoholic beverages, tobacco and motor fuels), meaning that the prices for all products – excluding subscriptions – will rise by 8.73%.
The increase is in line with the evolution of the health index (the consumer price index without alcoholic beverages, tobacco and motor fuels), which SNCB called a "tough but necessary decision."
The prices of tickets and passes for young people and/or seniors, however, remain below the health index.
Senior Ticket: €7.80 (+€0.60)
Youth Ticket: €7.10 (+€0.50)
Youth Multi: €57 digitally (+€4) or €59 on paper (€4), which means an increase of €0.40 per trip.
Youth Holidays (for people up to 26 years old) for one week: €19 (+€1), for one month: €31 (+€2)
Local Multi: €29 (+€2)
Standard Multi: €93 digitally (+€9) and €96 on paper (+€9)
The rates for commuting and school subscriptions will go up by 9.73%.
As reasons for the price rise, SNCB cites the indexation of wages and the sharp increase in energy prices: with 3,800 trains per day, the company is the largest electricity consumer in Belgium.
