Train passengers across Belgium will be able to fill their drinking bottles with free filtered tap water in 100 stations by the end of 2024, Belgian railway company SNCB announced on Friday.
The water taps will be located in easily accessible places in stations across the country. Once the taps have been installed in all 100 stations, 80% of all train passengers in Belgium will have access to free drinking water.
"By allowing passengers to fill their water bottle for free, SNCB aims to contribute to reducing the plastic waste mountain," the company said in a press release.
From today, the service is already available in six train stations: Bruges, Brussels-Luxembourg, Ghent-Sint-Pieters, Courtrai, Ostend and Liège-Guillemins. The Charleroi-Central and Ottignies stations, among others, will follow in the coming weeks.
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Each water tap will also be accessible to wheelchair users with an extra-low button to operate the appliance. At the bottom of the water tap point, an open space is provided so that wheelchair users can move there smoothly.
SNCB stressed that the new service is in line with its vision as a sustainable means of transport. "The company plays an important role in reducing the ecological footprint of our country. Those who travel by train produce up to six times less CO2 than by car."
Credit: SNCB
