Car on decline in Wallonia but remains number one

Between 2017 and 2024, the modal share of the car in Wallonia dropped from 83% to 71.4%, although the car remains the most popular means of travel there, as just under three-quarters of trips were made by car. This is according to figures from the FPS Mobility and the Walloon statistics office Iweps.

Attempts to get the Walloon to use public transport more have come to nothing. The share of the train, for example, has barely increased from 9 to 9.2%. Wallonia’s objective is to reach a modal share of 60% for the car by 2030, i.e., a reduction of more than 20% and 15% for the train; in other words, it still seems far off.

The number of EVs is negligible

Last year, the Walloon passenger car fleet consisted of 1,830,233 vehicles. The majority of these (55.8%) were gasoline cars. The share of so-called ‘zero emission’ vehicles is negligible: 20,566 vehicles, or 1.1% of the fleet.

The average occupancy rate there was 1.33 occupants per vehicle. The goal of reducing it from 1.3 occupants in 2017 to 1.8 in 2030 is no longer considered realistic by the Air Climate Energy Plan (PACE) and has, therefore, been reduced to 1.5.

More use of public transport

On the other hand, the use of public transport in Wallonia is on the rise. Between 2017 and 2023, the share of bus/tram/metro trips rose from 4% to 8.7%, or slightly more than double. Therefore, the goal of reaching 10% by 2030 is very realistic.

Travel on foot or by bicycle also increased, from 3% and 1% respectively to 5.8% and 4.1%. Walking and cycling should increase to 5% and 5%, respectively, in 2030, and the target for walking has thus already been reached and that for cycling almost.

The main reason for Walloons to travel remains work or school (25.6%), followed by shopping (just under 20%) and leisure (just over 15%).

Freight transport by rail and ship still not breaking through

Road transport is still used mainly for transporting goods across the region, accounting for 91% of the 45 billion ton-kilometers transported in Wallonia last year (including international transport). Wallonia has 38,180 registered trucks, 86% of which run on diesel.

The share of rail in freight transport was 5.6% (2,57 billion ton-kilometers), and that of inland navigation was 2.9% (1.36 billion). The breakthrough of transport by ship is yet to occur in Wallonia, and it will have to shift up a gear if the 18% target is to be met by 2030.

And compared to 2005, both travel by private individuals and goods transport emit less C02. However, you can hardly call that positive news when you know that those figures have only gone up compared to the 1990s.

Finally, in 2023, there were 225 deaths in road accidents in Wallonia. The ambition is to reduce that to 100 in 2030 and 0 in 2050.