Brussels residents take up S-train travel with gusto

The increase in frequencies, new stations and a strong publicity campaign three years ago seem to have done the trick: 44% more people are using the S suburban network of trains than in 2015. The weekend saw the biggest growth in the network, with Saturday traffic up a whopping 64%.

The number of Brussels passengers on the network has doubled, according to SNCB. “People are beginning to realise that travelling around Brussels is faster with the train than with the car,” federal mobility minister Francois Bellot told La Dernière Heure.

The rail authority sees much room for improvement, however, as the average train is only at 30% capacity. A planned Mobib option that incorporates the train should see numbers rise even further.

The S network takes in 34 stations in total, including routes that link the capital to Brussels Airport, Vilvoorde, Leuven, Louvain-La-Neuve and other cities. Most have Brussels links at least three times an hour.

Photo: Bas Meijer/Wikipedia