The number of fare dodgers at the Belgian public transport company NMBS/SNCB is rising. Last year, nearly 700,000 passengers without tickets were caught red-handed at the railroad company. Sudinfo newspapers have reported the news.
This is a remarkable 40% increase compared to 2023, some 200,000 more than two years ago.
Impact of tens of millions of euros
Last year, NMBS/SNCB fixed 695,508 ticket-related offenses, 200,000 more than the previous year, when it recorded 497,000 violations (+40%). In comparison, 463,336 violations were recorded in 2019, the year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of these infractions involving undeclared passengers and those who have forgotten their season ticket, 64,754 have resulted in an administrative fine. According to Tom Guillaume, spokesperson for NMBS/SNCB, fraud has a financial impact of tens of millions of euros. In 2023, for example, it was 44 million euros.
More control by Securail
Since January 2023, Securail security officers have also carried out numerous random ticket checks daily at stations, even before passengers board trains.
The NMBS/SNCB does not rule out the possibility of gates in stations in the future. That would be an even more effective measure against undeclared travel, although it does not seem like something for the immediate future. Such gates are not included in the 10-year contract with the government; in other words, there is no budget for them.
Fines from €9 to €500
If a valid ticket can not be shown, the traveler can pay an additional 9 euros for his or her trip on the train. If he or she refuses, the train conductor gives him/her an adjustment of 90 euros, and the traveler has 14 days to pay it.
After several reminders, an administrative procedure is initiated in case of non-payment, and fines of 250 to 500 euros are imposed.
The number of undeclared passengers at the Flemish public transport company De Lijn, too, has increased by more than 70% in five years.
