Belgian Railway (SNCB/NMBS)

The activities of the SNCB are grouped into 4 major divisions:

• its activities in transporting passengers: SNCB Mobility (in Belgium) and SNCB Europe (in Europe)
• its activities in the workshops: SNCB Technics
• the training bodies for train drivers and train attendants
• its activities in the transport of goods: via subsidiaries such as SNCB Freight Services

The SNCB organises the railway transport of passengers both nationally (SNCB Mobility) and internationally (SNCB Europe). These sectors of activity are managed separately in order to provide a flexible policy to respond positively to the needs of each customer type. International passenger transport is a commercial activity in a highly competitive market. International rail traffic was completely liberalised in 2010. Internal passenger transport is a public service mission entrusted to the SNCB by the government. A management contract determines the services to be provided by the SNCB on behalf of the government (as concerns the availability of trains, tariffs, services, etc).

Solutions

• Mass Transit Operator

Stations

What does the Stations department do?

• Improves mobility in Belgium
• Develops and modernises stations and their surrounding areas
• Improves facilities and services inside stations
• Plays a central role in urban development

What are the main priorities for the future?

The main priority of the Stations department is to turn stations and their surrounding areas into intermodal hubs and dynamic business centres, by focusing on several key areas.

• Accessibility: people with reduced mobility, connection to the road network, car and cycle parks, station connectivity;
• Intermodality: connections to other forms of public transport, taxi and kiss & ride areas, car and bicycle sharing;
• Sustainability: energy savings, new technologies, tackling vandalism;
• Station functionality: services, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, signage and information;
• Safety: fire safety, anti-intrusion, lighting;
• Urban development.

Transport

What does the Transport department do?

The Transport department is exclusively responsible for operational management. It organises the national train service, from drawing up timetables to monitoring rail traffic in real time. As part of its work, it also manages rolling stock, drivers, train guards and safety.

More specifically, the Transport department is responsible for:

• developing the Transport Plan and organising passenger train timetables;
• monitoring the Transport Plan and updating it in December and June each year;
• informing and training staff involved with the Transport Plan;
• rolling stock and driver scheduling;
• managing and training train guards;
• operational management of train services and deploying them locally;
• operational safety, passenger and staff safety.

What are the main priorities for the future?

• To guarantee passenger, staff and train safety (operational safety, social safety, occupational safety).
• To improve the punctuality of rail traffic (in collaboration with other departments).
• Greater availability and reliability of rolling stock;
• Awareness-raising (comprehensive activities on the ground);
• Closer operational collaboration between Infrabel and SNCB;
• Limiting significant delays;
• Robustness of the 2014 Transport Plan.
• To give customers a quality service.
• Giving customers organised information in real time (in stations, on trains, via social media);
• Clean trains;
• Assisting people with reduced mobility, groups.

SNCB Europe

Thalys

• High Speed to Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne
• Wi-Fi on board
• Bar-buffet
• Comfort 1: free catering at your seat, newspapers
• Summer: Thalys Sun to the South of France
• Winter: Thalys Snow to the French Alps

Eurostar

• Brussels-London in 2 hours
• Up to 11 trains a day
• Departure also from Lille
• Check in up to 30 mins before departure
• Arrival at London St Pancras International
• Choose from 3 comfort classes

TGV

• Daily from Brussels-Midi to 22 French destinations
• Interior designed by Christian Lacroix
• Bar carriage with drinks and snacks
• Children compartment with nursery room
• Cheap Prem's fares for quick bookers

ICE

• Dozens of German cities at 300 km/h
• Wi-Fi available on main routes
• TV screens and individual audio sets
• Bistro carriage.
• Family compartment where children can play

Eurocity

• To Luxembourg, eastern France and Switzerland
• 2 direct trains a day from Brussels via Namur
• Seat reservation recommended
• 25% discount for holders of a Railplus card

Intercity

• Regular services to Amsterdam, Lille, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Aachen and Roosendaal
• Flexible: no seat reservation
• Various discounts (Escapade, Trampoline Weekend etc...)
• Various discounts (Weekend, Superdagretour, Youth etc...