In October 2025, Belgian railway operator SNCB announced and implemented a new travel pricing system making travel cheaper for many travellers. This is a move that according to SNCB is aimed at encouraging train travel.
The new system’s main feature is the new discount card – Train+ – which provides train travel benefits such as reduced fees and capped maximum price for tickets. The Brussels Times reported that, according to SNCB, this is the largest change of its pricing in 30 years. Additionally, the operator’s main goal is to encourage more people to opt for trains, targeting increased train use by 5 to 9 percent in the upcoming three years.
Moreover, ticket prices are now calculated per kilometre, allowing passengers to access lower fares depending on distance travelled.
Under the new system, fares for long-distance journeys are capped at 120 kilometres. That’s down from a previous cap of 150 kilometres. This represents a price reduction of 20 percent for longer routes. Second-class journeys now costs no more than 20.90 euros for an adult (aged 26-64), instead of 26 euros before the launch of the new system. On 20 November 2025, Belga News Agency reported that 418,000 passengers have already subscribed. According to the data, half of the travellers who purchased Train+ opted for a yearly discounted fee.
The new discounts will largely apply to travellers taking the train off-peak hours, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., as well as between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
What are the fees for a Train+ card?
Those interested in purchasing the travel card can buy it on SNCB’s official website.
Adults (26 to 64)
- 40 percent discount during off-peak hours from Monday to Friday
- 40 percent discount on top of the basic discount of 30 percent on weekends and public holidays
- The price for Train+ is 6 euros for one month or 48 euros for one calendar year
Young people (under 26) and Seniors (above 65) as well as beneficiaries of preferential reimbursement
- 40 percent extra discount on top of the basic discount of 40 percent they already receive
- They pay only 5,50 euros per trip in second class or 8,80 euros per trip in first class
- The cost for Train+ is 4 euros per month or 32 euros for one calendar year
Children under 12
- They travel for free
- One paying traveller can bring up to four children with them.
IMPORTANT: All discounts are applied sequentially rather than cumulatively, which means each reduction is calculated on the already discounted fare.
How to buy Train+
The card can be purchased at any time online or via the mobile app. Then the card is linked to the buyer’s account. Additionally, those who decide to purchase Train+ at a vending machine or a ticket desk will receive a QR code on paper or they could store the Train+ on their MoBIB card. The Train+ card works automatically. Once travellers decide to buy tickets, they just need to scan the QR code they received or enter the card’s number manually. Otherwise, it is already linked to the buyer’s account.
Special offer
If young people and seniors purchase the train card before 4 January 2026, Train+ costs 2 euros for one month or 16 uros for 12 months. For adults, Train+ costs 3 euros per month or 24 euros for one calendar year.
Criticism
Despite the reduced prices for many, TreinTramBus, a Flemish public transport association representing passengers and advocating for their rights, condemned the new system as “needlessly complicated.”
“There is a 40-percent discount, and with the Train+ card, you get another 40 percent on top of that. But that does not come down to 80 percent; it is really 64 percent of the whole – a complicated calculation for people who just want to know which option is cheapest,” said Peter Meukens, the chair of passenger organisation TreinTramBus.
While the association supports the new system, they argue that the change could have been implemented more clearly. Another concern raised by TreinTramBus refers to the distinction between peak and off-peak hours.
Whatever the case, using Train+ is one option to seriously reduce your travel costs.
**********
See more about Belgium here in Dispatches’ archives.
Read more from Polya here.
Polya Pencheva
Polya Plamenova Pencheva is a young Bulgarian journalist based in Brussels, Belgium. Polya holds a Master's degree in journalism from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and loves writing and telling the untold stories of interesting people. You can find her dining at cute café, shopping at markets, scouting second-hand shops or just chillin' at home with something great to read.
