Nearly half fewer travelers at De Lijn, a fifth fewer at the NMBS and a third fewer at the Brussels STIB. The numbers say it all. Even though daily life resumes, everyone goes back to school and telework decreases: the use of public transport does not follow. Confidence in train, tram, bus seems to be gone. That's today the conclusion of the Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad.

Under the motto #MoveSafe, the NMBS once again welcomed all commuters. Most feel safer little by little, but not everyone dares to take the step. The avid train user knows that there is sometimes drumming between passengers who want to get out and waiters who want to get on. Even though public transport turned out not to be a moving hotbed, we still opt for the car en masse.

increasing number of travelers

At the beginning of September, the number of travelers on the trains of the railway company NMBS and on the metros of the Brussels company STIB was at the highest level since the start of the corona crisis about a year and a half ago. This is apparent from a survey by Belga. Last week, the NMBS recorded an average of 78 percent of the number of travelers before the crisis on weekdays. "That is the highest percentage since the start of the corona crisis," said NMBS spokesman Dimitri Temmerman. 

STIB notes that public transport in the capital may not yet be fully used for commuting, partly because teleworking is still recommended. The colleges and universities have yet to start up.

Also read: Flemish mobility center in foreign hands

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bus service De Lijn
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