More than 9.5 million passengers travelled by train with SNCB during July and August, marking a rise of nearly 3% compared with last summer. The figures confirm the increasing popularity of rail for leisure travel, with passenger volumes up almost 30% compared to summer 2019, before the pandemic.
Weekend travel also saw significant growth, with numbers up 2% on 2024 and as much as 37% higher than in 2019.
Boosted services for popular destinations
To meet growing demand, SNCB strengthened services to tourist hotspots, including coastal towns, theme and wildlife parks, and major music festivals, while also offering a wider range of discounted fares.
The Belgian coast remained one of the most popular destinations. More than one million passengers bought tickets to or from the eight coastal stations during July and August, up 25% compared with 2019. To accommodate demand, SNCB operated additional Côte-Express services to Blankenberge, La Panne, Knokke and Ostend. Staffing was also reinforced with student workers and additional security, supported by Securail and local police forces, to ensure safe and comfortable travel.
Festivals were another major draw, with over 240,000 festivalgoers travelling by train this summer. SNCB laid on additional services for around 20 events, including more than 100 overnight trains.
Bicycle transport also increased in popularity, with sales of bike tickets rising 13% year-on-year. Foldable bicycles continue to be carried free of charge.
Strong performance and punctuality
SNCB also reported high punctuality across the summer. Between July and August, more than 93% of trains ran on time, an improvement on 2024, when punctuality had already exceeded 91%.
International Rail Travel on the Rise
International journeys also grew, with 1.6 million bookings recorded via SNCB International in July and August – up 6% compared with 2024 and an impressive 50% compared with 2019.
SNCB offers services to more than 6,000 destinations in 14 European countries, with France, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands among the most popular. Demand was bolstered by new routes launched from Brussels-Midi, including Eurocity Direct to Amsterdam, Eurocity to Rotterdam, and OUIGO services to Paris.
Return to regular timetable
With the summer holidays ending, SNCB has restored its full regular service. Suburban S-trains and peak-time P-trains are now operating in greater numbers.
Since 25 August, a direct S81 service has been running throughout the day between Louvain-la-Neuve and the European Quarter. From 1 September, the completion of works at the Carsoel Bridge in Uccle will allow S5, S7 and S9 services to resume their full routes, strengthening the Brussels RER network.
The expanded S-service offers a sustainable alternative for commuters seeking to avoid road congestion, particularly during major roadworks at the Leonard interchange.
SNCB has also introduced reduced-price parking at Louvain-la-Neuve station – €1 per day – for passengers holding a valid train ticket, providing more than 700 spaces for commuters looking to combine driving with rail.
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