Last year, the number of SNCB passengers was up 7% on the figure recorded in 2022, reaching a level of 244 million.
The increase is mainly seen in occasional passengers, the Belgian state-owned rail operator said in a press release.
In 2023, the number of commuters using a season ticket rose to 89 million. “Even though this number represents an 8% increase compared to 2022, working at home still has an impact on the number of weekday commuters and the frequency with which they use the train. The number of season ticket holders is lower than in 2019,” points out SNCB. Last year, 64 million passengers used a Student Abonnement, which is an increase of 6% compared to 2022 and 2% compared to 2019.
SNCB passenger numbers lower at peak times
Compared to 2019, there are currently 10% fewer passengers in the morning and evening peak hours and 10% more passengers in off-peak hours.
As for occasional passengers, the increase is confirmed: especially in July and August 2023 their number was 8% higher than in the previous year. And on weekend days, SNCB regularly recorded 20% more passengers than in 2019. In total, around 77 million passengers used individual tickets or ten-journey tickets in 2023, an 8% increase compared to 2022.
By 2032, SNCB aims to increase passenger numbers by 30% and the number of trains in circulation by 10%. “Seeing more people on trains is excellent news for our climate, our health, our road safety, our economy or for reducing the traffic jams that cost us five billion euros every year. That’s because trains, the most sustainable mode of travel there is, are an answer to all these challenges. That’s why the federal government has reinvested heavily in rail transport and set an ambitious target of doubling the number of seats on trains by 2040. The increase in passenger numbers confirms that we are on the right track, even if much remains to be done to strengthen the reliability of the network and improve the service offered to passengers, particularly in terms of punctuality and accessibility,” said Belgian Minister for Mobility Georges Gilkinet.
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