BRUSSELS – A Belgian commuters’ organisation has branded as misleading a recent claim by state rail company SNCB that 95 percent of the country’s trains ran on time last year.

Navetteurs.be argues that SNCB is being disingenuous because its figures do not differentiate between rush hour trains and trains running at less busy times of the day.

“For us these figures don’t reflect the reality on the ground,” complained Gianni Tabbone, the organisation’s founder.

“A train that arrives late during the rush hour obviously causes far more disruption for travellers than one travelling at off peak times,” he continued.

Tabbone paints a far less rosy picture of SNCB’s effectiveness than the rail company. According to his calculations, during 2003, 3228 trains arrived late during the crucial 6am to 9am period.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news