‘Quasi-free’ public transport not an unqualified success in Wallonia

The almost free subscriptions the previous Walloon government introduced for public transport were not an unqualified success. More season tickets were sold, but validation on the buses and trams decreased. “If this price reduction does not encourage the use of public transport, where is the problem?” Minister of Mobility, François Desquesnes (Les Engagés), wonders.

The previous Walloon government of PS, MR, and Ecolo introduced democratic subscriptions (12 euros per year) for three specific target groups: young people, seniors, and people in a vulnerable financial situation.

Fare reduction

In 2024, 409,000 such subscriptions will have been sold, an increase of 8 percent compared to the previous year. But at the same time, it appears that the use of subscriptions has not increased. 

Thus, some categories of travelers have not responded to the fare reduction. For example, young people (between 18 and 24) purchased 4.1 percent more subscriptions in 2024, but the number of validations of those subscriptions on buses or trams fell by 2.3 percent.

This is a bizarre trend but, at the same time, a costly affair for the government, Minister Desquesnes stated, recalling that this quasi-free measure, decided by the previous government, cost some €40 million annually.

Evaluation

Subscriptions increased by 7% in the over 65 category, and the last category stood out most in the statistics: +12% subscriptions. Therefore, the Walloon government is still hesitating about whether to extend or eliminate the almost free bus service.

According to Minister Desquesnes, the evaluation of the measure highlights “some positive elements, but others that are questionable.” He is currently considering revising the management contract with the Walloon transport operator. “The fare structure will be one of the components of this new contract,” he concluded.