Rail fares to rise by 3.6pc next month

27 January 2005

BRUSSELS – Train fares in Belgium will go up from next month, it has been confirmed.

State rail operator SNCB/NMBS is to increase the cost of its season tickets by almost four percent, although its “Pass” and its “Key Card” schemes are to remain the same price, it was reported on Thursday.

Single tickets will go up by about 3.6 percent on average.

The price rises are less than the 4.7 percent rises that SNCB had wanted to implement, which were blocked by Labour Minister Johan Van Lanotte last October.

Discount tickets like weekend fares, family and group tickets will cost EUR 6.5 for second class singles and EUR 10 for a first class ticket.

Season tickets for workers or school pupils are to go up by 3.78 percent.

On Thursday, the Brussels regional government was also expected to give the green light to price rises on the Brussels public transport network.

From 1 March, passengers using buses, trams and metros operated by city transport organisation STIB/MIVB will be asked to pay EUR 1.50 for a single ticket instead of EUR 1.40 and EUR 10 for the 10 journey ticket which now costs EUR 9.8.

However, there could be good news for the unemployed – under the proposals they are to be given free tickets for travel to job interviews.

Subject: Belgian news