In almost all train stations where there are still ticket offices, the opening hours will change from March 1. There are only four stations where nothing changes at all, according to a list that the Belga press agency was able to view. There is little understanding within parliament for NMBS’s decision to cut back on opening hours. “This goes against the spirit of the agreements,” said almost all parties.
The NMBS communicated last week about the biggest changes. At that time there were changes in 54 of the 91 stations where there are still ticket offices. This involved, for example, 33 stations where the ticket offices will no longer be open on weekends. In other stations, the ticket offices close on Sundays or are only open in the mornings during the week.
But even more opening hours of counters appear to be adjusted. The list that Belga was able to view contains only four stations with counters where nothing will change at the beginning of March: Eupen, Kapellen, Puurs and Wezet. In some other stations the opening hours shift, but the ticket offices remain open for the same amount of time each day during the week. This is the case in Blankenberge, Eeklo, Neerpelt, Spa and Tongeren, among others.
Two hours less per day
Opening hours will be shortened at all other stations. The counters often open later in the morning or close earlier in the evening. For example, no counters will be open after 8 p.m. in any station, except Brussels-Midi (hub for international trains). In major stations such as Antwerp Central, Bruges, Brussels North, Brussels Airport, Ghent-Dampoort, Ghent-Sint-Pieters and Leuven, the counters will be staffed at least two hours less every day on weekdays. In the busiest Walloon station, Namur, it is one hour.
For the interventions, NMBS refers to “the significant increase in digital sales”. For example, only 10 percent of tickets are purchased at a counter, compared to half in 2015. Back then there were even more stations with counters.
Little understanding
There is little understanding within parliament for the decision to cut back on opening hours. Jef Van den Bergh (CD&V) addressed Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo) during a mini debate.
“When concluding the management contracts, you stated quite explicitly that there would be no more closures,” it said. “A reduction in opening hours may not be a closure, but it goes against the spirit of what you said at the time.” Although, according to him, the decision did not come completely out of the blue. “The efficiency gains also have to happen somewhere.”
“Even the busiest stations cannot escape”
Joris Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) criticized the NMBS approach. “Even the busiest stations cannot escape,” the faction leader referred to, among others, Ghent-Sint-Pieters and Ghent-Dampoort. “This is about much more than just the ability to buy a train ticket. It is also about social safety and the need for human contact.”
Minister Gilkinet largely quoted the transport company’s statement in his answer. His party colleague Olivier Vajda (Ecolo) indicated that he was “angry”. He accused the NMBS of a “lack of respect” for the minister and “sabotage of the management contract”. Frank T roosters (Vlaams Belang) accused the NMBS of using circular reasoning. “Online ticket sales have increased, but that is something that NMBS organizes itself. The worse the train company performs, the more arrogant it acts.”
General secretary Günther Blauwens of the socialist trade union ACOD Spoor makes the comparison with the weather report on television. “Everyone has an app to follow the weather by the minute, but everyone still watches the weatherman or weatherwoman on TV. Everyone at the railway also asks confirmation from the staff,” it sounds. Blauwens points out that the commercial employees of the NMBS always receive good points from travelers.
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