The controversy surrounding the fare increase for De Lijn, Flanders’ main public transport operator, has sparked significant debate among officials, commuters, and political parties. The Flemish government has confirmed plans to raise ticket prices by 18% to 20% starting from April 2024. This decision, announced by Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder (N-VA), follows three years of price freezes under previous minister Lydia Peeters (Open VLD).
De Ridder acknowledged the substantial increase, stating it is necessary to correct the indexation delays from the past years. She argued, "Every company knows you can’t spend more than is coming in," highlighting the financial strain resulting from not adjusting fares to match inflation. The fare increase will help address De Lijn’s budgetary deficit, which she claimed now stands at €30 million due to these previous decisions, leading to challenges covering rising wages and energy costs.
Opposition parties, including Groen and the PVDA, have voiced strong objections to the timely and extent of the fare hikes, branding them as excessive amid decreasing service quality. Bogdan Vanden Berghe, MP from Groen, expressed his discontent, pointing out the decrease in the number of bus stops, drivers, and operational vehicles. "The service of De Lijn is dramatic and continues to deteriorate, yet this government still has the nerve to increase ticket prices by a fifth. That is incomprehensible and unacceptable," he stated emphatically.
Despite the criticisms, some political factions like Vooruit maintain their support for the fare adjustment, emphasizing the importance of matching price increases with indexation after several years of stagnation. Kris Verduyckt, the party's leader, defended the indexation, stating, "The fact it was not calculated in recent years means people are paying the bill today." He reiterated the necessity of the fare adjustment to reflect accurate costs of operating the transportation system.
De Ridder indicated the forthcoming price adjustments are not arbitrary but are tied to social equity efforts. Those particularly vulnerable to such increases, including seniors and low-income individuals, will find some financial relief. She promised to keep fares affordable for these groups, aiming to minimize the impact on students and those requiring financial support.
Responses from advocacy groups representing commuters have been mixed. Stefan Stynen, chair of the TreinTramBus organization, voiced some sympathy for the need to raise fares but described the scale of the increase as "disproportionate." He insisted service reliability must be prioritized. Stynen argued for limiting the fare hikes to about 10%, coupled with improvements to public transport services to justify any additional costs to passengers.
Many proponents of public transport reform argue this sudden increase contradicts efforts to promote greater usage of public transport. Vanden Berghe noted, "This policy drives people away from public transport, whereas our goal is to get more people to opt for buses and trams. The increase sends the wrong message." Similarly, PVDA's Jos D'Haese criticized the hike on social media, lamenting how such pricing disconnects from actual service reliability, emphasizing how commuters cannot trust their buses will arrive as scheduled.
Despite the turbulent reactions, the government remains poised to finalize the framework of pricing, with the expectation of confirming the fare hike shortly. The overall sentiment among the opposition reflects broader frustrations over the quality of services compared to rising costs, pointing to systemic issues within public transport management.
Following this price hike, 51% of De Lijn's services are estimated to operate around February 13, with significant disruptions expected across major urban areas, such as Antwerp and Ghent, as unions prepare to protest against the rising costs and lack of service quality.
The situation highlights the growing tension between financial sustainability and the need to maintain affordable and reliable public transport options for constituents. Critics continue to lobby for improved investment not only to restore lost service quality but also to establish a fair balance as financial pressures mount on Flanders’ transportation infrastructure.
Whether these criticisms will be heeded remains uncertain, but the disparities between ticket prices and service reliability raise urgent questions about Flanders' commitment to establishing efficient and accessible public transport, especially as more passengers are urged to abandon their cars for greener travel alternatives.