S-train offer is expanding, 'connectivity must be better'

The expansion of the S train network is justified, because since the beginning of the legislature, the use of trains within Brussels has increased by 15 percent on weekends. This is what Minister Elke van den Brandt (Green) said at the Mobility Committee of the Brussels Parliament on April 16.

Smaller stations in particular have seen an increase. If you do not count the five main Brussels stations, such as the North-South Line, Schuman and Brussels-Luxembourg, the number of passengers on board has increased significantly between 2019 and 2023: by 80 percent.

Van den Brandt pointed to planned improvements to the timetable on line S4 from Aalst. Within Brussels, this line connects the Jetty to the European area – Schuman Station – in eleven minutes. This line currently operates only once per hour and only on weekdays. From now on, this train will continue to run to Louvain-la-Neuve and will also operate on weekends.

Night show

In addition, more night services will be available on the S network in Brussels from the end of this year. From December 2024, the last trains will depart from Central Station on Friday and Saturday evenings between 00:56 and 01:52. This concerns the lines S1 (Nijvel – Brussels – Mechelen) S2 ('s-Gravenbrakel – Brussels – Louvain) S8 (Zottegem – Brussels – Ottignies – Louvain-la-Neuve) and S10 (Dendermonde – Brussels – Aalst) services.

“Communication has to be better”

Brussels MP Anne-Charlotte Dorcel (MR) noted in her response that the real development in the number of travelers can only be seen when comparing the past 10 years. She also seems critical about expanding the network. “The Good Move plan sets out the ambition to deliver four trains per hour in each direction on the S network.”

She also points out that communication about S trains needs to be improved. She points out that it is not always easy for travelers to transfer between the STIB and the S train. “Our group also proposed to show train departure times on the STIB signs.”