SNCB considers ticket barriers to stop fare evasion

Belgian railway operator SNCB has said it will investigate whether access gates can be installed in stations to increase security and cut down on fare evasion.

Passengers already have to scan their tickets before entering stations on the Brussels metro network and in some train stations abroad, but in Belgium, Brussels Airport station (pictured) is the only one where access gates are already in place.

SNCB is now working on an update to a 2023 study on the subject and a pilot project may be launched in a number of stations, including Brussels-Midi.

“We’re not only looking at gates, but also at alternatives such as ticket validators or additional security and anti-fraud measures,” said spokesperson Britt Monten.

Mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) announced that access gates will be installed in five major stations on a trial basis, including Brussels-Midi, but his cabinet later amended the message.

“SNCB is investigating the conditions necessary to set up a pilot project this year,” the correction read. “Based on that analysis, a decision will be made on whether the project can go ahead.”

Crucke’s spokesperson told Bruzz that the minister is in favour of the project, though in September he said the idea of access gates in large train stations had been scrapped due to "a negative business case" - the costs would be much higher than the extra income generated by fewer cases of fraud.

“Ensuring the safety of SNCB staff and passengers with valid tickets is not an option, but a responsibility,” Crucke said. “We must guarantee them a safe and peaceful environment.”

SNCB said it wanted clarity by April on the conditions for launching a possible pilot project.

In the meantime, the railway operator has already stepped up the fight against fraud.

“Last year, for example, 40% more passengers were checked compared to the previous year,” Monten said.

“To this end, we organise large-scale checks, for which we also collaborate with the police.”

Crucke also wants to step up cooperation between rail safety agency Securail and the police, including bodycams and the sharing of images.

The new Brussels government also announced its own measures to increase safety in and around stations, especially around drug-related nuisances, including €10 million per year in investments for Brussels-Midi and Brussels-North stations.

Photo: Japplemedia/Wikimedia. Licensed under Creative Commons