Belgium has third most subsidised rail company in Europe

Belgium’s national rail authority SNCB receives €12 of public funds per train kilometre, the third highest rail subsidy in Europe, after the French and Luxembourg railways. Rail companies in the UK and the Netherlands are the least subsidised, reports L'Echo, based on a study by the European Rail Market Monitoring Scheme (RMMS).

While SNCB so far refuses to officially comment on L'Echo’s report, the company is heavily subsidised by the federal government. The company is wary of revealing exact figures, as some would expect the high subsidies to translate into some of the lowest ticket prices in Europe, which is not the case.

SNCB is quick to point out that it pays large fees to Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel, for the use of the rail network.