Seven per cent of train passengers travel without valid ticket, SNCB inspection reveals
SNCB checked more than 50,000 passengers during a large-scale ticket inspection campaign carried out in December, the railway company announced on Tuesday. Around seven percent of those checked did not have a valid ticket.
The inspection, conducted in cooperation with the police, covered more than 570 trains during the first two weekends of December. The operation supplemented routine checks by train staff and were carried out both on board and on platforms.
SNCB said the aim of the operation was to remind passengers that they must hold a valid ticket before boarding. Travellers without one can buy a ticket from the inspector, with an additional surcharge. Those who are unable to pay, receive a fine of 90 euros, which can rise to 500 euros in the event of repeat offences.
The railway company also warned that disputes over missing tickets are a major cause of aggression towards train staff. According to SNCB, the increased inspections highlight the presence of its staff and improve passengers' sense of security.
Ticket fraud on the rise
The campaign forms part of a broader strategy to combat ticket fraud. SNCB said it has checked around 40 percent more passengers this year than in 2024. Similar large-scale inspection actions are planned on a regular basis next year.
Ticket fraud represents a significant financial burden for SNCB, with annual losses running into tens of millions of euros. According to RTBF, around 700,000 people did not pay for one or more train journeys in 2024, a 40 per cent increase compared to 2023.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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