In an interview with VRT News’ parliament programme Villa Politica, the Flemish Transport Minister Annick De Ridder (nationalist) has confirmed that the Flemisd public transport company De Lijn is to increase its fares by 18%.
The price hike comes after a three-year price freeze during which fares were not increased to match inflation. Ms De Ridder says that the reason that fares were not increased in 2023 and 2024 was the result of her predecessor Lydia Peeters (liberal).
Ms De Ridder said that De Lijn will be allowed to increase its fares by at least the rate at which prices have increased since 2022.
"Because passengers’ incomes have also risen by the rate of inflation, as that is how things work in this country, so it’s not at all logical that De Lijn’s fares haven’t increased too”.
This will amount to a fare increase of around 18%, Ms De Ridder said. However, the final decision will be up to De Lijn.
Ms De Ridder also pointed to the fact that the Belgian rail company NMBS and the Brussels and Walloon transport companies MIVB and TEC have all increased their fares to match inflation. She adds that De Lijn not being allowed to do so has left it with a 30-million-euro hole in its budget.
"Then you have to act. Every company knows that you can’t spend more money than is coming in”.