Ticket violators face fines of up to 500 euros!
The Belgian railway company SNCB is strengthening ticket inspection measures after a significant increase in the number of passengers traveling without paying for their tickets.
According to RTBF, around 700,000 people were reported to have not paid for one or more trips last year, an increase of 40% compared to 2023.
SNCB explained that this high number is due to an increase in the number of passengers on one hand, and more inspections being carried out on the other hand.
Evading ticket payment causes annual losses of millions of euros for the company. SNCB imposes varying fines depending on the type of violation, which are added to the basic ticket price.
If you board the train without a ticket, the inspector can issue a ticket for the passenger with an additional fine of 9 euros. If you are unable to pay the fine immediately, the passenger is asked to settle the matter at the train station, where a fine of 90 euros is imposed, as explained by SNCB spokesperson Tom Guillaume.
In extreme cases, those who do not comply with the settlement procedures may face administrative fines of up to 500 euros, and in the event of repeated violations, criminal proceedings may be initiated.