Snacks, bubbles, confetti,… About 30 young people had a great party this afternoon on the train between Brussels South and Zaventem. With this fun campaign they wanted to emphasize that a train journey has become a luxury for young people.
The partygoers were part of the youth unions of ABVV, ACV, CSC and the French-speaking student federation FEF.
From Thursday, February 1, NMBS will increase its rates by 5.9 percent. “A consequence of the increase in the consumer price index,” is the explanation. However, according to FEF chair Emila Hoxhaj, this ignores the reality of young people.
“The price had already risen last year and now again. Many students can no longer afford those extra costs,” says Hoxhaj.
In concrete terms, the initiators call on the Belgian government to introduce NMBS youth season tickets at an affordable price, following the example of transport companies STIB and TEC. They offer a youth rate of 12 euros per year. At De Lijn, someone between 12 and 24 now pays 215 euros.
In addition to the need to make train travel accessible to everyone, the organizers also emphasized the challenge of the ecological transition. “We need to be able to encourage people – including the younger generation – to use public transport. By continuing to increase fares, NMBS will not motivate anyone to take the train,” concluded the chairman of FEF.
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