During the last Council of Ministers – a weekly meeting of government ministers – before the 2026 summer recess, the Belgian Government has approved the strategy and guiding principles for a far-reaching reform of Belgium‘s passenger rail market, marking the first formal step towards opening public rail services to competition after the current public service contract with NMBS / SNCB expires in 2032.
The Council of Ministers endorsed the proposal put forward by Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), who will now develop the detailed framework for how Belgium’s railway sector will operate in a more competitive environment.
The reform is intended to bring Belgium into line with the European legislative framework governing public passenger rail services. The current public service contract between the Belgian state and NMBS / SNCB, which runs from 2023 until the end of 2032, was awarded directly. Any successor arrangements must comply with European rules on the awarding of public service contracts.
Under the government’s plans, public service contracts for passenger rail transport will be opened to competition gradually through a phased tendering process. Rather than introducing full liberalisation at once, the government intends to put individual public service contracts out to tender over time.
For services that have not yet been tendered when the current contract expires, the government plans to negotiate and directly award a transitional contract to NMBS / SNCB. This would ensure continuity of services while the competitive model is gradually introduced.
Stronger federal rail authority
A central element of the reform is the creation of a stronger federal public authority responsible for the strategic planning of passenger rail services. This body would oversee the design of public service obligations, organise competitive tender procedures and manage the contractual relationship with operators.
According to the government, the authority will require sufficient human, technical and regulatory expertise to fulfil these responsibilities.
The reform also foresees new governance and coordination mechanisms aimed at ensuring that a more competitive railway market continues to function as an integrated national network. These measures include safeguards for technical interoperability, coordinated timetables between public service and commercial operators, and the efficient use of railway infrastructure and rolling stock.
In addition, the government wants to maintain a single fare structure and integrated ticketing system for public rail services, while creating a technical and organisational framework that can also accommodate other transport modes operated by the regions and private companies.
Further proposals to follow
The Council of Ministers has tasked Minister Crucke with developing the detailed conditions for the future organisation of the railway sector. The proposed market structure, together with a timetable for its phased implementation, will be submitted to the government for further approval at a later stage.
The decision represents the clearest indication yet that Belgium intends to move towards a more competitive passenger rail market after 2032, while seeking to preserve an integrated national rail network and avoid disruption to passengers during the transition.
Literally in Dutch:
Organisatie van de spoorwegmarkt in België na 2032
De ministerraad gaat voorstel van minister van Mobiliteit Jean-Luc Crucke akkoord met de strategie en leidende beginselen van de hervorming van de spoorwegmarkt in België.
De organisatie van de openbare dienstverlening op het gebied van het personenvervoer per spoor moet worden hervormd om uiterlijk in 2032 aan het Europese wetgevingskader te voldoen op het einde van het huidige openbare dienstcontract 2023 – 2032 tussen de Staat en de NMBS.
De hervorming omvat:
- de geleidelijke openstelling van openbare dienstcontracten voor het personenvervoer per spoor voor concurrentie via een gefaseerd proces waarbij de contracten op de markt worden gebracht;
- de onderhandelingen over en de rechtstreekse gunning van een aflopend contract aan de NMBS voor de diensten waarvoor bij het verstrijken van het huidige openbaredienstcontract nog geen aanbesteding heeft plaatsgevonden;
- het bestaan van een sterke overheidsinstantie op federaal niveau die belast is met de strategische uitwerking van de spoorwegdiensten en de contractuele vastlegging daarvan via de organisatie van aanbestedingsprocedures en die beschikt over de daarvoor benodigde menselijke, technische en regelgevende competenties;
- het invoeren van stuur- en coördinatiemechanismen die de technische interoperabiliteit waarborgen, de coördinatie van de dienstregeling om het naast elkaar bestaan van openbare en commerciële diensten en het efficiënte gebruik van de spoorweginfrastructuur en het rollend materieel te waarborgen, evenals een uniform tariefsysteem en een uniform ticketingsysteem binnen het bereik van de openbare dienstverlening in een technische en organisatorische omgeving die openstaat voor andere vervoerswijzen die door de regio’s en/of particuliere actoren worden beheerd
De minister van Mobiliteit krijgt het mandaat om de voorwaarden uit te werken voor de toekomstige werking van de sector in een concurrerende omgeving. De minister zal de voorgestelde architectuur en de kalender voor de geleidelijke uitvoering ervan opnieuw ter goedkeuring voorleggen.
Literally, in French:
Organisation du marché ferroviaire en Belgique après 2032
Sur proposition du ministre de la Mobilité Jean-Luc Crucke, le Conseil des ministres a marqué son accord concernant la stratégie et les principes directeurs de la réforme du marché ferroviaire en Belgique.
L’organisation des services publics dans le domaine du transport ferroviaire de personnes doit être réformée, afin de se conformer au plus tard en 2032 aux exigences qui découlent du cadre réglementaire européen, à la fin de l’actuel contrat de service public 2023-2032 conclu entre l’État et la SNCB.
Voici ce que contient la réforme :
- la mise en concurrence progressive des contrats de services publics de transport de voyageurs par chemin de fer via un processus échelonné dans le temps de mise sur le marché de contrats;
- la négociation et l’attribution directe d’un contrat en extinction à la SNCB pour les services non encore mis en concurrence à l’expiration du contrat de service public actuellement en vigueur;
- l’existence d’une autorité publique forte au niveau fédéral en charge de la conception des services ferroviaires sur le plan stratégique et de leur contractualisation via l’organisation de procédures de mises en concurrence, et dotée des compétences humaines, techniques et réglementaires à cet effet;
- l’élaboration de dispositifs de pilotage et de coordination garantissant la préservation de l’interopérabilité technique, la coordination horaire en vue d’assurer la coexistence entre services publics et services commerciaux et l’utilisation efficace de l’infrastructure ferroviaire et du matériel roulant, ainsi que l’unicité tarifaire et l’uniformité billettique dans le périmètre du service public dans un environnement technique et organisationnel ouvert aux autres modes gérés par les régions et/ou des acteurs privés
Le ministre de la Mobilité est mandaté de développer les modalités du fonctionnement futur du secteur dans un environnement ouvert à la concurrence. Le ministre présentera une nouvelle fois pour validation l’architecture proposée et le calendrier pour sa mise en œuvre progressive.
NMBS / SNCB & Infrabel related news
- NMBS / SNCB turns 100 on 23 July and holds nationwide celebrations in the coming months.
- NMBS / SNCB advisory committee explicitly opposes station access gates, while people on the ground express more enthusiasm.
- Brussels to Coast trains to include uniformed and plain-clothed police.
- NMBS / SNCB: International train travel continues to grow in popularity with Belgian holidaymakers.
- NMBS / SNCB expands summer train services to coast, tourist attractions and festivals.
- NMBS / SNCB: Ticket checks possible on the platform before embarking the train, no on-board sales from 1 July 2026.
- TGV inOui Brussels – Strasbourg – Basel from July 2027.
- NMBS / SNCB to expand train services by 3% under new 2026–2029 transport plan.
- ANTWERP-LINKEROEVER | Average of 530 people take the train at Linkeroever on weekdays.
- NMBS / SNCB: Train travel gains popularity as fuel prices rise.
- NMBS / SNCB ends mandatory gender registration for online ticket purchases.
- NMBS / SNCB presents new rainbow-clad Siemens Desiro for Pride and IDAHOT.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station reopens as temporary hub during premetro tunnel works.
- PHOTOS | Presenting Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station anno 2026.
- NMBS / SNCB introduces boarding zones on platforms to further improve passenger experience.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel to upgrade Antwerp-Berchem and add second track between Mol and Neerpelt, amongst other economy-boosting projects.
- Antwerp-Linkeroever Railway Station (re)opens on Saturday 2 May.
- BELGIUM | Infrabel launches Brussels pilot to curb dangerous track trespassing.
- BELGIUM | Train operator NMBS / SNCB to end on-board ticket sales from 1 July 2026.
- BELGIUM | Access gates to be introduced in major railway stations, reversing earlier opposition.
- Rise of international trains puts pressure on the Belgian rail network: domestic services must not disappear.
- ANTWERP | Renovation of Linkeroever station to begin during spring half-term, rail services temporarily disrupted.
- Belgian Mobility Minister wants to revive direct train service to Switzerland.
- NMBS / SNCB & CAF for MR30 / AM30 electric multiple units signed.
- 2026 | Bpost marks 100 years of NMBS / SNCB with a stamp.
- Reorganising train travel in Belgium by 2050: going for the Swiss or the Dutch model?.
- BELGIUM | More than 9.5 million travellers took the train the summer of 2025.
- Hamont – Weert on foot, because the train connection still isn’t there.
- REVIEW | ‘Belgian Railways Under Occupation: Between Collaboration and Resistance’ at Train World in Brussels.
- NMBS / SNCB to apologize for involvement in WWII deportation transports.
- Antwerp-Berchem Railway Station up for major revamp.
- PHOTOS | AM66 ‘Klassiekje’ / ‘Classique’ Farewell Ride at Antwerp-Central Railway Station.
- Farewell to Mortsel-Deurnesteenweg.
