With this new transport plan, SNCB should reach an annual production of 89.5 million train-km in 2026, i.e. an increase of 7.4% compared to the current service, underlines the company which describes its plan as ” more ambitious” than she had. The ambition is, in fact, to achieve a 30% increase in the number of train passengers by 2032. To achieve this, the railway company plans to invest more than 1.8 billion euros in the stations of the country for more intermodality, accessibility and comfort.
The plan thus emphasizes the development of the offer around large cities such as Brussels, Antwerp and Liège with better frequencies of suburban trains and on the improvement of connections between large cities at weekends. Nearly 50 suburban trains will also run later on Friday and Saturday evenings, including 30 trains until following 1 a.m. from Brussels and Antwerp, according to the new plan. In total, more than half of the stations (280) will thus benefit from a better offer by 2026, rejoices the SNCB.
The gradual renewal of trains will also offer more comfort to travelers with 10,000 more seats, 40% more bicycle spaces, 80% of trains equipped with air conditioning (compared to 65% today) and more accessibility for people with low mobility. As part of this plan, 100% of SNCB trains will be equipped with the ETCS system which constantly monitors the speed of vehicles. The renewal of the material will also make it possible to increase the reliability of this one and, consequently, the punctuality, continues the company.
Many stations in the country will also be better connected to Charleroi airport, in particular thanks to the commissioning 7 days a week of a new IC Charleroi-Central – Fleurus – Ottignies – Wavre – Louvain service, which will be coupled with a TEC bus between Fleurus station and the airport. This same type of combined offer will be deployed between Luttre station and Charleroi airport, specifies the company.
By 2026, SNCB also plans to deploy no less than 2,190 connections every hour between its trains, i.e. +12% compared to the current situation and will strengthen its collaboration with other operators such as TEC, Stib and De Lijn. .
The cross-border offer will be reinforced, for its part, with the commissioning of the “train of the three countries” linking Liège, Maastricht and Aix-la-Chapelle and a suburban connection will also link Liège and Verviers to Aix-la-Chapelle.
This plan, which will be deployed in four successive phases (December 2023, December 2024, June 2025 and December 2025), also provides for massive recruitment. In this context, more than 500 drivers and escorts must be recruited in 2023, underlines the company.
Furthermore, while the Board of Directors recognizes the need to optimize the number of stopping points, it has however decided “not to make a decision at this stage and to postpone any decision in this matter to a subsequent transport plan. “. This means concretely that no station will be removed for the moment. Only 22 P trains which are very infrequent due to the increase in teleworking will no longer run, specifies the company.
The plan which covers the period 2023-2026 must now still be approved by the Council of Ministers.
