The Brussels bus, metro, and tram company MIVB/STIB scores 7,3 out of 10 on the company’s satisfaction barometer, the same score as the two previous years and better than any other public transport in Belgium. “A clear recognition from passengers about the investments in public transport,” says CEO Brieuc de Meeùs.

The metro remains the most popular mode of transportation, with the streetcar following in second place. However, the bus, previously less liked, is catching up this year with a satisfaction rate of 6,9/10 and again joins the metro and streetcar at plus minus equal height. In addition, 70 out of 94 satisfaction criteria go up in the survey, where twice as many participants (15 434) participated as in previous years. “It shows the commitment of our travelers.”

Payment systems appreciated

The figures also show travelers like MIVB/STIB’s digital payment system. The digital payment system even tops the list of payment methods in a shared place with purchasing tickets over the Internet.

The driving behavior of the metro drivers, the easy validation of tickets, the customer-oriented attitude at the kiosks, and the waiting time screens in the metro stations are also praised.

‘Best public transport in the country’

Brussels Minister of Mobility, Road Safety, and Public Works, Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), is also satisfied with the results. “As minister of mobility, I am proud of MIVB/STIB and as a Brussels citizen. Our city’s public transport is the best in the country and beyond,” Van den Brandt says.

“Every euro we invest in MIVB/STIB pays back three times over, making the city pleasant and more liveable. Yes, one-sixth of the government’s budget goes to public transport. That’s a lot, but it also remains a very conscious choice for the people of Brussels.”

Safety remains a working point

Although satisfaction remains stable, there are still working points for the company. “The feeling of safety is rising sharply, but the safety of some stations needs to be improved, and we are working with different services to do so,” the minister says. For example, a regional plan should make the Porte de Namur/Naamsepoort metro stop safer.

New devices and connections

The comfort of MIVB/STIB passengers should continue to improve. There are, for example, plans to purchase 90 electric buses and to open bus routes 17 and 29.

A new streetcar is also being put into service as part of Tram Vision 2030. In addition, the purchase of the M7 metro should soon allow the M6 metro cars to be put into service on metro lines 2 and 6, where five M6 metros will operate by the end of June.

The streetcar network will continue to expand in the coming years with line 10 to Neder-Over-Heembeek (scheduled for fall 2024), the Tour & Taxis streetcar line, which will connect Belgica to Central Station via the Tour & Taxis site.

And then there is the so-called Mediatram, which will run through the site of the new Mediapark to the public broadcasters VRT and RTBF. Also in the pipeline are the partial switching to streetcar rails of bus line 95, the extension of line 8 from Roodebeek to Bordet, and the extension of line 62 to Zaventem airport.