The Belgian Council of Ministers has approved the guiding principles for a reform of the country’s rail passenger market, setting out a phased approach to introducing competition after the expiry of the current public service contract with SNCB in 2032.
The reform, proposed by Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke, is intended to ensure Belgium complies with European Union requirements governing the organisation of public rail passenger transport services. The current public service contract between the Belgian state and national rail operator SNCB runs from 2023 to 2032.
Under the approved strategy, Belgium will gradually introduce competitive tendering for public rail passenger service contracts through a phased process. Services that are not included in competitive tenders at the end of the current contract period may instead be awarded directly to SNCB following negotiations.
The government also plans to establish a strengthened federal public authority responsible for the strategic planning of rail services and the management of competitive procurement procedures. The authority will be expected to develop the technical, regulatory and operational expertise required to oversee the reformed market.
Alongside the introduction of competition, the reform includes measures intended to maintain coordination across the rail network. These include mechanisms to preserve technical interoperability, coordinate timetables between public service and commercial operators, and ensure the efficient use of railway infrastructure and rolling stock.
The framework also aims to retain integrated fares and ticketing for public service rail operations while supporting a transport environment that includes services managed by regional authorities and private operators.
The Council of Ministers has tasked Minister Crucke with preparing the operational framework needed to implement the reforms in a competitive market. The proposed governance structure and phased implementation timetable will be submitted to the government for further approval at a later stage.
The reform is intended to ensure Belgium’s rail passenger market complies with the European regulatory framework by the conclusion of the current SNCB public service contract in 2032.
