People are choosing to take the train more often because of high fuel prices. This is according to a survey of train passengers conducted by the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB.

NMBS/SNCB is also seeing this growth in passengers’ numbers reflected in the figures: in March and April, the railway company sold 10% more single tickets and 8 to 9% more commuter passes than in the same months last year.

From the car to the train

The acceleration in passenger growth at NMBS/SNCB over the past few months is mainly due to high energy prices, which have risen sharply amid the outbreak of war in the Middle East.

In fact, in the survey, half of the passengers questioned “explicitly linked higher fuel prices to their use of trains.”

The Traffic Center, however, is cautious about drawing conclusions. According to traffic congestion figures from the past few weeks, no major shift is apparent.

And while we’re about fuel prices and the energy crisis: Traveling by train is also better for the environment because each kilometer traveled by train emits about five times less CO2 than traveling by car. An EV is certainly cleaner than a gasoline-powered car, but it is still not as fuel-efficient as a well-occupied electric train.

Popular Train+ discount card

The NMBS/SNCB also notes that Train+, the discount card launched in October as part of the new ticket offering, continues to perform well. Since its launch, more than 1,2 million travelers have already opted for Train+.

Train+ is currently used for approximately 40% of occasional train trips. The card is particularly popular among seniors, young people, and those eligible for an increased subsidy.