In 2023, the cramped interior of this small Flemish station is getting a makeover. In place of the old ticket office, which has been closed for three years, a coffee counter is being set up. Further on, the dusty offices of the railway agents are being equipped with imposing leather armchairs ready to welcome their first customers.Many decorative elements come directly from the station attic, such as panels or kepis.“, reveals the 50-year-old hairdresser.
Halfway between a rockabilly atmosphere and a station hall, these new spaces aim to breathe new life into a simple abandoned corridor. “Travelers stop here, drink coffee, eat a croissant. They then cross the station and discover, by chance, our lounge. Some even end up making an appointment“, pleasant Aksel Wijns.
Rail increasingly affected by climate change: “This area has already been flooded 4 times in 10 years”
Meeting places
In just a few years, SNCB has replaced its least profitable physical sales locations with automatic terminals. As a reminder, in 2021, the Belgian company had notably chosen to part with a third of its ticket offices.The changing habits of users in terms of purchasing transport tickets have led to these closures.details Vincent Bayer, spokesperson for SNCB. Following this, places became available. We wanted, in collaboration with cities and towns, to encourage the use of these available spaces to see the birth of initiatives with powerful local roots.“.
From a financial point of view, these rentals also allow the Belgian railway company to make its empty buildings profitable. But, for Vincent Bayer: “The main goal remains to maintain activities and a human presence within the stations“.
Since the wave of ticket office closures in 2021, such initiatives have multiplied. In Lede, a bicycle shop is located in the building next to the railway. In the Brussels municipality of Jette, the citizen café Staytion offers various cultural activities. A Horeca establishment called the “Brocanterie” revives the Rochefort-Jemelle station. And, in Jambes, south of Namur, the “Bicycle Workshop”, opened in September 2022, honors the little queen by renovating old bicycles in particular.
According to Thomas Simon, founder of this cooperative and cycling enthusiast: “Giving things a second life is part of our DNA. So, coming to settle here made perfect sense. Former tellers, retirees from the SNCB, and local residents often come to chat with us. All this is possible because the place had a life before us. The station flourishes, its history continues“.
LED lighting and new emergency number, Infrabel wants to improve safety at level crossings: “Each victim is one too many”
Between 30 and 40 million euros of investment
Today, there are around 460 stations without a physical point of sale in Belgium, including many small stations.For the latter, new assignments have been found or are being sought. The operation is taking place in consultation with the local authorities, because the objective remains to bring the surrounding neighborhood to life.“, describes Vincent Bayer.
Train stops with fewer than 10,000 passengers per week will also benefit from new investments of 30 to 40 million euros per year until 2032. This portfolio will be used, among other things, to make stations more accessible , to install new shelters, benches, lighting, clocks and signage on the platforms, but also to expand the parking lots for bicycles and cars. The gravel that remains on certain platforms will also be replaced by mastic asphalt. The stations will also be equipped with totems, which will allow them to stand out in the urban landscape.
