Profit of €131,6 million for NMBS/SNCB in 2024

Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB posted an operating profit, i.e., before interest and tax costs, of 131.6 million euros last year, down 10.6 million euros compared to 2023.

The number of passengers rose slightly in 2024 to 245.1 million. “This is an increase for the third year in a row, but the return of commuters is taking longer,” the NMBS/SNCB says – in 2029, before Covid-19, there were 253.4 million passengers.

Impact of telecommuting

The number of classic commuter season tickets remained below the pre-Covid-19 crisis level, according to NMBS/SNCB, due to “telecommuting, which is now firmly established.”

The Flex Subscriptions launched in 2023 – for those who commute to work two or three days a week – then continued to grow again, in line with expectations. More than a quarter of all commuter subscribers now have a flexible rail pass. Revenue from single tickets rose 13.2%.

Investments amounted to 870 million euros last year, more than half of which went to further renewal of the train fleet, including the purchase of 160 M7 double -deckers.

Under the public service contract, NMBS/SNCB, which accounts for 3,800 trains per day, aims to increase the number of train passengers by 30% and train supply by 10% by 2032.

To support this growth, NMBS/SNCB will renew half of its train fleet by 2032, quasi-double the number of fully accessible stations to 176 (currently 116) and commit to growing the number of bicycle spaces in trains by 50% and in bicycle parking by 30% – currently there are 127,868 bicycle spaces in the stations, an increase of 1,000 spaces compared to 2023.

Still more than €2 billion in debt

NMBS/SNCB also recruited more than 1,300 new employees last year, the vast majority operational staff such as train drivers, train conductors, technicians, and safety personnel. On January 1st, 2025, NMBS/SNCB had 16,953 employees, almost 100 more than a year ago.

Debts were also further reduced, to 2.146 billion euros from 2.228 billion euros at the end of 2023. By the end of the current public service contract in 2032, NMBS/SNCB should have reduced the debt level to 1.5 billion euros.