Brussels not cutting public transport budget, says Smet

Brussels has no plans to cut investment in its public transport network MIVB/STIB, the Capital Region’s transport minister, Pascal Smet, said. Smet was responding to reports in the dailies L’Echo and De Tijd that MIVB/STIB would lose €5 million from its 2014 budget and €37 million from next year’s budget.

“The figures quoted are incomplete, and the conclusions drawn from them are wrong,” said Smet. “The Brussels-Capital Region will continue to invest in public transport, the network and services. The amount of money given to MIVB/STIB has increased by €36 million to €619 million, so it is not the case that cuts are being made.”

Smet added that MIVB/STIB is moving ahead with plans to install automatic gates on lines 1 and 5, although he admitted that there had been delays.

Meanwhile, the board of the public transport authority has announced fare increases that will push up the price of an annual pass from €499 to €520, while the price of a monthly pass will increase from €49 to €50. The price rise represents a 2.3% increase, which is above the rate of inflation. Single tickets and 10-journey tickets will cost the same.

The price increases, which still have to be approved, are expected to come into effect on January 1.

photo courtesy Mauritsvink/Wikimedia