October 31, 2023
In a new auction of the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM), the support mechanism to ensure electricity supply in Belgium from 2025, several new battery projects have received support. The temporary lifetime extension of the old Vilvoorde gas-fired power plant is also receiving support. All the 22 projects that participated will receive subsidies, reports system operator […]
October 30, 2023
The board of directors of Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB will soon consider a possible 5 to 6% fare increase early next year. The Rail Passenger Advisory Committee is already recommending that the indexation be postponed, mainly because of deteriorating services. Until now, NMBS/SNCB has traditionally raised fares every year at the beginning of February. Last […]
October 30, 2023
Flemish Minister for Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) plans to install a new Bicycle Chair at Ghent University from December 1st, with financial and substantive support from the Flemish government. Mobility experts who want to contribute to cycling policy in Flanders with their academic work can apply for the vacancy of part-time guest professor. The […]
October 27, 2023
Belgian courts may force people who commit serious traffic offenses to take a reintegration course from 2024. The aim is to reduce the risk of recidivism, which is currently very high. “It is necessary to take effective long-term measures to correct this dangerous behavior behind the wheel,” says federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo). He […]
October 27, 2023
The Roads and Traffic Agency (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) will renew approximately 250 traffic signs along the Flemish highways in the coming weeks. The signs are intended to announce where owners of electric cars can charge their vehicles. The signs will be updated, and a loading icon will be added. The first new traffic […]
October 26, 2023
The ministerial cabinets of the federal government and the various federated entities have already traveled around the world 66 times since coming to power. This carried a price tag of over 33 million euros, and the trips generated 1 500 tons of CO2 emissions. So write the IPM Group newspapers, including La Libre Belgique. By […]
October 26, 2023
Things are at odds between Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) and Ann Schoubs, director general of public transport company De Lijn. Schoubs had made some critical statements in the media about the company’s inadequate financing. She called the outdated buses ‘cadavers’ and the underfunding ‘a rotting strategy’. In response, Peeters lashed out strongly […]
October 25, 2023
Taxes on EVs should be reviewed soon. If not, the Belgian state will miss out on €1,5 billion yearly tax revenues by 2030. So argue economists Bruno De Borger and Stef Proost, attached to the universities of Antwerp and Leuven, respectively. After all, EVs also create congestion costs, and by taxing them less, they indirectly […]
October 25, 2023
Rail operator Lineas, Europe’s largest private freight operator headquartered in Belgium, lacks funds. Without an additional injection of at least 50 million euros, bankruptcy is looming for the company, of which the Belgian government is a shareholder, so write business newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo. Belgian federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) wants the government […]
October 24, 2023
The Belgian edition of the free newspaper Metro, distributed mainly through public transport, will cease publication because it is no longer viable. Rossel Group, the owner of Metro, has announced this. As the last printed free newspaper in the country, Metro is also entirely dependent on advertising revenue. And those remain structurally too low to […]
October 24, 2023
Brussels transport company MIVB/STIB’s fares are likely to be indexed from September 2024 and consequently increase by 6,9%, except for preferential fares. So reports the business newspaper L’Echo. For the past ten years, all MIVB/STIB fares have been frozen, and no indexations have been implemented, precisely to make Brussels public transport more accessible. At the […]
October 23, 2023
Low-emission zones (LEZ), which prohibit access to certain major cities for heavily polluting vehicles, have been successfully introduced in six European countries, including Belgium. This is according to a French report. In Belgium, the cities Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp, among others, introduced such an LEZ. The report aims to draw lessons for France from the […]
October 20, 2023
Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters has completed her draft investment program for 2024. Almost 700 projects will be supported, accounting for an investment of 2,2 billion euros. Most investments fall within cycling, road safety, and sustainability. According to Peeters (Open VLD), never has so much been invested in cycling infrastructure in […]
October 19, 2023
Air France will virtually disappear from Orly Airport by 2026. The French airline plans to concentrate its flights at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The decision comes as domestic flights from Orly are becoming less popular, as people more often video-conferee or travel by train. Sister carrier Transavia will now become Group Air France’s reference carrier […]
October 18, 2023
Guerrilla climate activists Tyre Extinguishers deflated tires of 55 SUVs in Ghent during the night from Monday to Tuesday. This was a coordinated action, as that same night activists also struck in cities in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Latvia – a first. In total, the tires of more than 200 SUVs were deflated. The […]
October 17, 2023
At the Japan Mobility Show 2023, Toyota will not only present two BEV concepts, but it will also showcase the Kayoibako. This new vehicle is a multi-purpose modular electric concept that can fit numerous roles. The budget-friendly 4-meter-long Kayoibako can double as a last-mile delivery van, shuttle van, or even camper, and the perfect city […]
October 16, 2023
The Belgian driver still has a foot that is too heavy. For example, over half (55%) drive too fast in built-up areas at least once a month. One Belgian in four also uses his cell phone behind the wheel. E-step users are also indifferent. Half of Belgians (49%) say they have driven two on such […]
October 16, 2023
Public transport company De Lijn recently opened a new type of store where passengers can obtain travel info and buy bus and tram tickets. The store is located in the gallery of the Antwerp Central Station, in the Pelikaanstraat. Later, similar shops will follow in Brussels, Louvain, and Ostend. Compared to the previous generation of […]
October 13, 2023
On December 10th, Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB will start the first phase of its plan to expand its train offer significantly. In the first phase, however, the expansions remain limited. The extensions are part of the 2023-32 public service contract that NMBS/SNCB signed with the federal government at the end of last year, aiming […]
October 12, 2023
European airports think that starting next year, they will regain the volume of passenger traffic they had before the coronavirus crisis. That is a year ahead of schedule. ACI Europe even foresees a slight increase compared to before the Covid-19 disruption, according to their updated Airport Traffic Forecast 2023-2027. The International Association of European Airports […]
October 12, 2023
Evolyn, which plans to rival Eurostar’s high-speed trains between Paris and London, has ordered its first 12 trains from French train builder Alstom. Plans for a competitor to Eurostar’s high-speed trains via the Channel Tunnel became public in July. Behind Evolyn are French and British companies, which reportedly include British transport operator Monica, the former […]
October 11, 2023
Liège’s new tramway has successfully completed its first run through the city streets. A first track was completed on a six-kilometer stretch between the Droixhe depot and Coronmeuse station. Meanwhile, the works in Liège, which suffered several setbacks and delays, are moving ahead, and the first commercial run is expected to take place in 2025. […]
October 09, 2023
Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) launched a ‘Flemish Task Force Autonomous Transport’, in view to coordinate and accelerate the development of autonomous transport in Flanders. “The aim of the task force is to lead the upswing of autonomous transport in Flanders and to support new pilot projects maximally,” says Peeters. “Autonomous mobility is […]
October 09, 2023
The Federal Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), has a preliminary draft ready for a framework law to provide a legal basis for all decisions regarding the operation of Brussels Airport. According to the minister, the text is essential to avoid new legal proceedings over noise pollution, in which the State sometimes has to pay […]
October 06, 2023
If it were up to Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), too-loud cars and motorbikes in the Brussels Region could be sent directly to a testing station for a technical inspection. According to her party colleague and MP Lotte Stoops, the effect of noise on our health is still too often underestimated. “Noise […]
October 06, 2023
Sales of new speed pedelecs fell 31,4% in Belgium in September compared to the same month last year. This is reported by sector federation Traxio. In September, 1 212 speed pedelecs were sold, compared to 1 767 in the same month last year. However, on the second-hand market for speed pedelecs, a clear increase of […]
October 05, 2023
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scrapping part of the HS2 high-speed rail line construction. At a Conservative Party conference, he announced to give up the link between Birmingham and Manchester. The 36 billion pounds it will release will be spent on “hundreds of new transport projects in the North and Midlands, across the country.” […]
October 05, 2023
Today, the Dutch Coalition of Car-sharing Providers (Coalitie van Deelauto-aanbieders, CvD), launches its collaboration. The five coalition members – GreenMobility, MyWheels, Share Now, Sixt share, and SnappCar – want to promote car sharing and stimulate conversation between the sector, civil servants, politicians, and experts. According to CvD, car sharing is a practical, affordable, and more […]
October 05, 2023
The Brussels Region is planning 1 200 new charging points for EVs next year. Brussels Energy and Environment Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo) has announced a public contract. Sixty of these charging points will be exclusively for car sharing. By 2035, the Brussels Region aims to have 22 000 publicly accessible charging points for electric cars. […]
October 04, 2023
According to Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio, second-hand car market growth cooled considerably in September after three months of double-digit growth. Interest in used cars remains high, and although the increase is moderate, the market is still developing favorably. The good news is that second-hand car availability is increasing, and prices are stabilizing. […]
October 03, 2023
With the ‘Green Deal Inclusive Car Sharing’, the Brussels Region wants to encourage as many Brussels residents as possible to share cars. Launched by Brussels Environment Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo) and his Mobility colleague Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), the project aims to make car sharing in Brussels more significant, sustainable, and inclusive. The project […]
October 02, 2023
The federal government will increase the bicycle allowance for those who commute by bicycle from 0,27 euros to 0,35 euros per kilometer. In addition to the increase, there will be an annual ceiling for the tax exemption of 2 500 euros per year. According to figures from HR service provider SD Worx, almost one in […]
September 28, 2023
For several months now, the Antwerp Waterbus has stopped its 8 a.m. shuttle service to from Kruibeke to Antwerp, causing a lot of resentment among commuters. By canceling the 08:10 a.m. ferry, people are forced to take the early-morning 07:40 a.m. boat, but sometimes, the ferry is overcrowded, and passengers cannot board. That is why […]
September 27, 2023
At the behest of Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), public transport company De Lijn will skip two indexations of ticket prices. De Lijn needs to see how to reconcile this in its budget with increasing costs. Business newspaper De Tijd reports this. The news comes just when the Flemish government is facing criticism […]
September 26, 2023
Air France-KLM is to order 50 Airbus A350 aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The first deliveries are scheduled for 2026 through 2030. With the order, Air France-KLM aims to expand and renew its long-haul fleet. The airline had previously ordered 41 Airbus A350s. Of these, 22 have already been delivered. The order also includes […]
September 26, 2023
The Dutch railway company Arriva intends to offer travelers some additional train connections. The company wants to operate trains from The Hague and Amsterdam to Antwerp, Brussels, and Brussels Airport from 2027 onward. Arriva opposes the monopoly of NS, the national rail network in the Netherlands. Therefore, the company applied to operate 26 rail routes […]
September 25, 2023
The number of average speed controls on Flemish roads is increasing rapidly. Newspaper De Tijd reports that, according to a survey by Het Laatste Nieuws and news channel VTM, 159 trajectory speed checks are operational today. By the end of the year, this number will more than double to 349. Average or trajectory speed checks […]
September 25, 2023
Twenty-six Antwerp action groups have joined forces and launched an election memorandum on Friday about mobility in the province of Antwerp. The memorandum calls for a “catch-up” effort, including “substantial investments” in public transport and pedestrian and cycling facilities. According to the activists, the promised “modal shift” to at least 50% of journeys that must […]
September 25, 2023
By 2026, Wallonia will get 11 additional Carpool car parks for 1 118 spaces. Wallonia will thus have a total of almost 5 000 Carpool spaces. The news has been reported by the newspaper La Capital, based on information from Walloon Mobility and Infrastructure Minister Philippe Henry (Ecolo). 30% more Today, Wallonia has almost 3 […]
September 22, 2023
Teleworking will save an estimated 36 million kilometers of commuting this year. This is according to a survey of 3 750 Belgian workers conducted by the FPS Mobility. One in three Belgians says they telework at least one day a week. Teleworking, a new work habit since the coronavirus crisis, would also change mobility habits […]
September 21, 2023
Brussels Finance and Budget Minister Sven Gatz (Open Vld) wants part of the funding for the construction of Metro 3 to come from SmartMove, the Brussels road pricing scheme. This is stated in a note on budgetary projections until 2030 that he has put on the government table. Both the new metro line and the […]
September 21, 2023
GreenMobility, the Antwerp-based platform for shared e-cars, wants to make car sharing affordable and sustainable for students. With the special GreenStudent subscription, they can now travel cheaply all year round with a minimal ecological footprint. The GreenStudent subscription gives students access to 100% electric cars at any time of the day. They receive a 10% […]
September 20, 2023
Since 1995, European countries have invested 66% more in highways than rail connections. “We spend more money on means of transport that emit the most greenhouse gases,” says Joeri Thijs, spokesperson for Greenpeace. Greenpeace Central en Eastern Europe requested a study by the Wuppertal Institute and think tank T3 Transportation. That study revealed that over […]
September 20, 2023
At the second Mobility Stakeholders Day of the Belgian mobility federation Mobia on Tuesday in Brussels, guest speaker professor Dave Sinardet made those ‘stakeholders’ face the facts that there is a considerable gap to be bridged between the sector and the general public when it comes to the importance of everyday mobility issues and the […]
September 20, 2023
The Car-Free Sunday in Brussels again positively impacted air quality and reduced noise pollution. So says the Brussels public service Brussels Environment. On the 23rd Car-Free Sunday, concentrations of nitrogen monoxide and dioxide dropped by 95 and 77%, respectively, compared to a normal Sunday. Readings were taken on Regent Avenue, a spot near Arts-Loi/Kunst-Wet where […]
September 19, 2023
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has started the construction of a brand-new Car Rental Service Center. It will be the Netherlands’ largest car rental company facility, accommodating about 2 500 vehicles and able to charge some 300 EVs simultaneously. The building is expected to be finished by the end of 2024. Schiphol is transforming the former P4 […]
September 19, 2023
In 2022, traffic congestion cost the Belgian economy 4,8 billion euros due to lost time, extra fuel consumption, and higher emissions of CO2 and harmful gases. The Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO- FEB) reports this based on Stabel and the Federal Planning Bureau data. Mobility has changed in recent years. Teleworking has taken hold, especially […]
September 19, 2023
In The Netherlands, considered one of Europe’s most advanced countries in EV adoption, the enthusiasm to switch to an electric car seems lower than expected. After nine months, the subsidy pot of 100 million euros still has 43 million left. In former years, that subsidy pot was generally plundered by the end of May. Only […]
September 18, 2023
In January, there will be a central bicycle register in Belgium to fight bicycle theft. Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) confirmed this in Le Soir newspaper, among others. It is one of the showpieces of the ‘Be Cyclist’ program, which aims to promote the use of bicycles through a series of 52 measures. The […]
September 18, 2023
Today, 1,62% of Belgian employees has a leased bike to commute. That is one-quarter more than last year (1,29%) and more than ever. The figures come from HR service provider Acerta and are based on a survey among 320 000 employees working in 37 000 private sector companies. The reason for this extensive study was […]
September 15, 2023
British oil company BP continues to set ambitious targets for its network of ultra-fast charging stations. By 2030, it wants to roll out 20 000 High Power Charging (HPC) points for cars and a network of low-carbon mobility hubs for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. It will do this with Germany’s largest service station network, Aral, […]
September 15, 2023
Leasys, the 50/50 joint venture between multinational automotive company Stellantis and the French Crédit Agricole Consumer Finance, is a multi-brand leasing company operational in eleven European countries. This week, Leasys Belgium was officially presented. The new company intends to take advantage of the changes in the market and maximize its presence. According to the press […]
September 14, 2023
According to a study by HR service provider SD Worx among 1 000 working Belgians, commuting is not a reason to change employers. However, some people have a very long morning and evening commute. Those who live in East Flanders spend the longest time commuting (daily average of 59 minutes), followed by those living in […]
September 13, 2023
After a nine-year absence, Brussels Airlines will again fly to the Kenyan capital Nairobi in June. To do so, it will deploy a new aircraft, an Airbus A330, now the airline’s tenth long-haul aircraft. It will also increase the number of flights to the Rwandan capital, Kigali, from five to seven a week. The ramping […]
September 13, 2023
On 17 September, the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, like 40 Flemish cities and municipalities, will organize another Car Free Sunday. The entire region will be closed to car traffic on that day from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it the largest car-free zone in Europe. The service of the Brussels public transport […]
September 11, 2023
The Gotthard tunnel, at 16,9 km the longest road tunnel in Switzerland, has been closed since Sunday. The reason is a crack in the ceiling of the tunnel, which is popular with motorists driving to and from Italy. Chunks of concrete landed on the road, but no one was injured, said FEDRO, the Swiss agency […]
September 11, 2023
A recent Mozilla Foundation study reveals some shocking facts, and 25 car manufacturers deserve the ‘Privacy Not Included’ warning label in the United States. According to the study, cars have become data-gobbling machines that watch, listen, and collect information about what you do and where you go. While we worry that our connected doorbells or […]
September 11, 2023
The permit for the Airport Tram, which will connect Brussels Airport to Brussels, has been granted by Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA). Construction works could start in late 2025 to early 2026. The Brussels Region had already issued planning permission for the Brussels section of the future inter-regional tram line to the national airport. […]
September 08, 2023
Lucien, the bicycle shop chain under the wings of Belgian’s most significant car importer D’Ieteren, is expanding its territory again with the recent acquisition of ‘Fietsen King’ in Louvain. It will be the 17th Lucien shop. Until now, D’Ieteren’s bicycle subsidiary was mainly active in and around Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. Later this year, the […]
September 08, 2023
There will be a specific police office, more patrols, and an alcohol ban at Brussels South Station to tackle drug and security problems. These are some of the 22 concrete actions agreed between the federal and Brussels governments, the municipalities of Saint-Gilles and Anderlecht, and railway company NMBS/SNCB, under the coordination of the National Crisis […]
