The Belgian rail company NMBS has published the results of a large-scale ticket inspection campaign carried out earlier this month. More than 50,000 passengers were checked. Around 7% of them did not have a valid ticket.
The inspection was conducted in cooperation with the Federal Railways Police. Checks were carried out aboard more than 570 trains during the first two weekends of December. The operation was in addition to routine checks carried out by rail company staff both on board trains and on station platforms.
NMBS says that its aim was to remind passengers that they must have a valid ticket before boarding a train. Passengers that don’t have a ticket can buy one on the train from the ticket inspector. However, those buying a ticket on board a train have to pay a surcharge. Those who are unable to pay are fined 90 euro. Fines for repeat offenders can rise to as much as 500 euro.
NMBS says that disputes about tickets are a major cause of aggression towards rail staff. The rail company adds that the increased number of ticket inspections and in the visibility of its staff aboard trains and at stations makes passengers feel more safe and secure when they use the railways.
More ticket inspections
The campaign earlier this month is part of a broader strategy to combat ticket fraud. NMBS said it has checked around 40% more passengers this year than it did in 2024. Large-scale ticket inspection operations are planned on a regular basis next year.
NMBS loses tens of millions of euro each year due to ticket fraud. A report by the Francophone public broadcaster RTBF states that last year around 700,000 people in Belgium made 1 or more train journeys without paying. This is 40% more than was the case in 2023.