On September 21, Car-Free Sunday will be organized in various cities and municipalities in Belgium. To mark the occasion, NMBS/SNCB is offering a second-class return ticket for 8 euros.
It is noteworthy that in Wallonia, only a few municipalities, such as Moranwelz, Le Bizet, and Ans, are participating in the initiative, while the entire Brussels-Capital Region is participating, as are about 40 Flemish cities and municipalities.
Beneficial for families
The special Mobility Ticket is valid all day on Car-Free Sunday and is already available through all NMBS/SNCB sales channels. Especially for longer distances, 8 euros is a competitive price. Up to four children under the age of 12 can travel for free with each adult ticket.
NMBS/SNCB points out that the train service on weekends has expanded significantly throughout the country over the years. Among other things, the number of S-trains has increased. These are suburban trains in and around Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent, and Liège.
However, due to cost-cutting measures, some additional weekend and late-night services were not implemented, such as extra late-night trains on Friday and Saturday evenings around Brussels and Antwerp.
Last year, NMBS/SNCB recorded almost 61 million train journeys in Brussels and within a 30-km radius of the city. Sales of weekend tickets for these journeys rose by 9% compared to 2023.
Less follow-up in Wallonia
Car-Free Sunday typically takes place during European Mobility Week, which runs from September 16 to 22. With this initiative, the European Commission wants to encourage people to opt for soft mobility and look for alternatives to their cars.
Some cities also organize this day earlier or later. For example, Car Free Sunday took place yesterday in Hasselt, while Ghent organized it on September 7.
In Flanders, around 40 cities and municipalities are participating in Car-Free Sunday on September 21, including Antwerp, Blankenberge, Bruges, Kortrijk, Lier, Leuven, and Ostend. For a complete overview, click here.
The Brussels-Capital Region, with all its 19 municipalities, will also participate that day, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is noteworthy that there is no region-wide Car-Free Sunday in Wallonia. Only Ans, Le Bizet, and Morlanwelz are participating.
