Belgium’s national railway operator, NMBS / SNCB, will end ticket sales on board domestic trains from 1 July 2026 and increase ticket inspections on station platforms as part of a broader effort to combat fare evasion, improve staff safety, and clarify ticketing rules for passengers.
The railway company says the change reinforces a simple principle: every passenger must possess a valid travel document before boarding a train. The move was first announced in March, but NMBS / SNCB is now intensifying its communication campaign ahead of the introduction date through station posters, announcements, digital screens, its website, and onboard messages.
Under the new rules, the longstanding option of purchasing a ticket from the train conductor for an additional €9 fee will disappear. While this possibility currently accounts for only around 1% of ticket sales, NMBS / SNCB argues that it has created a grey area that some passengers have exploited by delaying ticket purchases until they see a conductor.
At the same time, the railway operator will intensify ticket inspections not only on trains but also on station platforms, where valid tickets are already legally required.
Platform checks to become more common
According to NMBS / SNCB, access to platforms is reserved exclusively for passengers holding a valid ticket or for people accompanying a traveller who has one. Although the rule already exists, it has not always been widely known among passengers.
From 1 July, inspectors may increasingly verify compliance before travellers board trains. Ticket inspections already take place occasionally at platform entrances and on platforms themselves, but the company says these checks will become more frequent.
In stations where ticket machines are located on the platform, inspectors will take this into account. However, passengers are expected to purchase a ticket immediately after entering the platform area, in much the same way motorists are expected to pay promptly when parking in a paid parking zone.
Passengers holding a Flex Subscription or a digital Brupass ticket must continue to activate their travel day through the NMBS / SNCB app before boarding, as is already required today.
Part of a wider crackdown on fare evasion
The end of onboard ticket sales forms part of a broader anti-fraud strategy that NMBS / SNCB has been expanding since 2025.
The railway operator says fare evasion costs the company up to €80 million annually. Around 7% of passengers checked during inspections are unable to produce a valid ticket.
To address the issue, NMBS / SNCB increased the number of ticket inspections by 50% in 2025 and plans to further intensify controls in the coming months, both on trains and at stations. The company has also deployed dedicated mobile inspection teams focused exclusively on ticket verification. Large-scale inspection operations are regularly organised in cooperation with Securail, local police forces, and the railway police.
The railway company argues that purchasing tickets has become easier than ever. More than 90% of tickets are now bought digitally through the NMBS / SNCB app or website, or from station ticket machines. Fewer than 5% of tickets are purchased at station ticket offices.
Fines and regularisation procedure
Passengers found travelling without a valid ticket will initially be given the opportunity to regularise their situation by paying €90 within 14 calendar days.
Failure to do so can result in an administrative fine of €250. Repeat offenders face penalties of up to €500.
NMBS / SNCB stressed that passengers who are unable to buy a ticket because of a defective ticket machine will not be required to pay the €90 charge. Train conductors are automatically informed when machines are out of service, and affected passengers will have 14 days to purchase the ticket at the normal fare.
Improving staff safety
The railway operator says the measures are intended not only to reduce fraud but also to improve working conditions and safety for frontline staff.
According to NMBS / SNCB, disputes with fare evaders are the leading cause of aggression against train personnel. In 2025, the company recorded 2,600 reports of aggression directed at employees, equivalent to an average of seven incidents every day.
By removing the responsibility of selling tickets onboard, conductors will be able to focus entirely on their core duties, including ensuring passenger safety, providing information and assistance, and carrying out ticket inspections.
Following European practice
The ban on onboard ticket sales will apply to all domestic train services in Belgium and to most cross-border services. However, passengers will still be able to buy tickets onboard certain international routes, including EuroCity, EuroCity Direct, Ouigo, TGV services, and trains operating between Kortrijk (Courtrai) or Tournai (Doornik) and Lille (Rijsel).
NMBS / SNCB said the measure brings Belgium into line with the practice already adopted in most European countries, where onboard ticket sales have largely disappeared in recent years.
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