De Lijn pushes through sweeping cuts despite local opposition
Flemish public transport operator De Lijn will make changes to around one in three of its routes. More than 320 of the company's roughly 1,000 routes are affected, the company announced on Thursday.
Some of the changes are routine adjustments in response to new school or train timetables, or changing conditions on the ground, De Lijn says. But cost-cutting is also a central factor, as the Flemish government has imposed a savings target of 44 million euros on De Lijn's operational structure.
Some routes will be scrapped, while others will see reduced frequencies, the cancellation of morning or evening services, or modifications to their itinerary. In some cases, routes will be extended to compensate for cuts elsewhere, and a small number of new routes will be added. The focus throughout is on services with low passenger numbers.
Passengers will be able to consult updated timetables from 18 May via De Lijn's route planner app and website.
Local councils overruled
Flanders was divided into fifteen transport regions in 2019. Within each region, local authorities sit on transport councils and play a formal role in shaping mobility policy for their area. Despite significant opposition from these councils, De Lijn has pressed ahead with the changes.
The company acknowledged that some alternative proposals from the regions were taken into account where they "met all the objectives" of the cuts, but ruled out any delay. "To achieve the savings target for 2026, the measures must be introduced from 1 July 2026. Any delay would mean that even more cost-cutting measures would have to be taken," De Lijn said.
Unions criticise changes
Trade unions have reacted sharply to the announcement. "Anyone who is serious about improving accessibility, tackling climate change and promoting social inclusion must stop cutting services and start investing again in a reliable, frequent and accessible public transport network. What is happening today does exactly the opposite," the christian trade union ACV Public Services said.
Socialist trade union ACOD went further, calling on the regional transport councils to refuse to accept the cuts. The union claims that the regions' recommendations are being "systematically ignored" and is urging that "all possible legal steps be considered" to secure a meaningful say in the process.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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