The Walloon public transportation company LETEC will implement a significant fare hike starting in February of next year. The price increase will be particularly noticeable for the very inexpensive fare options and passes.

Meaning that young people, those 65 and older, and passengers receiving increased reimbursement will bear the brunt of the hike. For example, the annual pass for the Express network for a young person under 24 will rise from €12 to €384.

The price increases are being implemented at the request of the Walloon Parliament. The opposition parties, led by Ecolo, are lambasting the LETEC network’s new rate structure. “While fuel prices are breaking records, Les Engagés and MR are sending an absolutely disastrous signal,” says the Green party.

At the expense of young people

Currently, 18- to 24-year-olds (which amounts to 136,000 subscriptions), people 65 and older, and those with “Increase Reimbursement” status pay €12 for an Express annual pass, which provides access to the entire network.

Starting February 1, the fare for this pass will increase significantly across all categories. Specifically, 12- to 25-year-olds – the 12-17 and 18-24 age groups are now combined into a single category – will pay €384, those 26 and older will pay €890, those 65 and older €120, and individuals with increased reimbursement status €60.

However, a reduced rate is available for large families; €307,20 per year for those ages 12-25 and €712 for those 26 and older – though such modest reductions are little more than a band-aid solution.

The Classic pass, which provides access to the entire network except for the 31 Express lines, will cost €180 per year for 12- to 25-year-olds (+ €30 for 12- to 17-year-olds) and €525 per year for those 26 and older (+ €105). With the discount for large families, the fare is €144 per year for 12- to 25-year-olds and €420 for those 26 and older.

One piece of good news is that fares for single-ride tickets, multi-ride passes, and day passes will remain unchanged. Children under the age of 6 will also continue to ride for free on the entire network. The Express network pass will also remain free for children ages 6-11.

Increase revenue and occupancy rate

According to the Walloon operator, the higher fares are intended to “provide LETEC with the resources to continue ensuring the operation of its network, while continuing the modernization and transition to sustainable mobility.”

LETEC also emphasizes that the public service contract, revised in June, aims to increase the revenue coverage ratio from 10% to 14%. At the same time, the operator also aims to increase the occupancy rate.

Whether such a relatively high fare increase – which is certainly steep for a single student – will also lead to more people traveling remains to be seen. However, the mobility organization Touring, for example, has its doubts.

“In Wallonia, where alternatives to the car remain inadequate in many areas, this could have the opposite effect,” says Touring. “For a family with several children, the total cost of subscriptions can become so high that, from a financial standpoint, owning a car sometimes becomes a more attractive option again. Therefore, it will be necessary to consider not only the additional revenue but also the impact on passenger numbers and mobility choices.”

Opposition furious

The opposition is also far from satisfied with the rate adjustment. “The main target is young people, who are already facing a staggering increase in tuition fees,” the PS criticizes.

“Those who are studying and pursuing their education are clearly the target of the MR-Les Engagés coalition, regardless of the level of government,” say the socialists.

Ecolo and the far-left PTB, on the other hand, focus primarily on the climate impacts. “With such expensive fuels and a series of extreme weather events, we need public transportation that truly encourages people to leave their cars in the garage,” says the PTB.

“That requires more frequent buses, well-served routes, and affordable fares. A sharp increase in the price of certain passes therefore poses a serious problem in terms of consistency with the government’s stated climate and mobility goals.”

“The fight against climate change should lead Wallonia to invest in public transportation and improve its accessibility,” says Ecolo. “The energy price crisis should lead to measures that further encourage the use of public transportation. MR and Les Engagés are making a counterproductive and disastrous choice here,” dixit the Green party.