De Lijn prices to go up, railway operator announces new range of fares
The Flemish government has on Friday confirmed that public transport company De Lijn needs to increase the total of its fares by 18.37 per cent. On the same day, Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB announced that it will launch a new range of fares this year. Broadly speaking, this new range of fares will make it cheaper to travel during off-peak hours and the weekend.
Earlier this week, Flemish mobility minister Annick De Ridder had already announced the price hike at De Lijn, and the measure has now been confirmed. The government wants to grant De Lijn tariff autonomy and will from 1 April only set the room for manoeuvre. The upcoming fare increase is a result of price freezes in recent years, explained De Ridder earlier.
The government did however also decide that the season tickets for young (18-24) and elderly (+65) people may not exceed 60 per cent of the standard fare. There are also still social fares set by the government. De Lijn is furthermore instructed to work on a combi ticket with other forms of public transport.
“The discount for young people between 18 and 24 is grossly inadequate”
“The discount for young people between 18 and 24 is grossly inadequate,” said MP Bogdan Vanden Berghe of Groen, the Flemish Greens. “These youngsters will pay up to 250 euros a year. In Brussels, with a Groen mobility minister, we charge 12 euros for an annual pass for young people.” Earlier this week, Vanden Berghe called the government’s decision “incomprehensible and unacceptable”. “De Lijn's service is dramatic and continues to deteriorate, but this government still has the nerve to increase ticket prices by a fifth,” he said.
New range of fares of NMBS/SNCB
Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB announced that will reform its range of fares before the end of the year. Broadly speaking, fares will become cheaper during off-peak hours and weekends. In this way, NMBS/SNCB wants to attract more travellers. According to the management agreement with the government, the railway company must have 30 per cent more passengers by 2032.
Broadly speaking, fares will become cheaper during off-peak hours and weekends
For adults, there will be an updated weekend ticket with a 30 per cent discount. Unlike the current weekend ticket, the discount applies to a single journey as well. During off-peak hours, travellers will be able to enjoy a 40 per cent discount, provided they have purchased a discount card that costs 6 euros per month.
Also new for adults is the discounted fare when travelling together in a smaller group of at least four people. During weekends and off-peak hours, these groups also enjoy a 40 per cent discount. There will also be a 20 per cent fare reduction for long journeys: the maximum fare drops from 26 euros to 20.90 euros.
Fare conditions for young people, senior citizens and those entitled to an increased allowance will be simplified and harmonised. They will always receive a basic discount of 40 per cent on tickets, regardless of the time of their journey or route.
#FlandersNewsService | Tram of De Lijn © BELGA PHOTO ANP / Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
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