Passenger protection organisation TreinTramBus is calling for Belgian railway operator SNCB/NMBS to offer a “Sorry Pass” to season ticket holders for February and March, as the latest wave of strikes continues to wreak havoc on commuters.
The appeal comes amid a week-long strike by the independent union METISP-Protect, which concluded Sunday, only for the country’s two largest rail unions, ACOD Spoor and ACV-Transcom, to join the ongoing general strike, further disrupting train services.
The strikes, now in their ninth consecutive day, have significantly impacted train services throughout the country, causing major inconvenience for travelers. TreinTramBus has labelled the effect on commuters as “disproportionate” and has demanded action from SNCB/NMBS to compensate affected passengers.
Peter Meukens, chair of TreinTramBus, emphasised the growing frustration among travelers. “The railway unions want to make a point, and they have done so now. Travellers have understood and are fed up with it,” said Meukens. “The unions only have something to lose if they continue to make life difficult for train passengers, who are their natural allies. Now is the time to negotiate.”
The ongoing disruption is the latest in a series of rail strikes, with train services already severely impacted by a nine-day strike in February held by the smaller unions OVS and ASTB, which lasted until 2 March.
As the strikes continue, TreinTramBus is pushing for SNCB/NMBS to reintroduce the “Sorry Pass” as a form of compensation. The initiative was last used in 2008, following a large-scale rail strike on 20 May, when 183,566 commuters applied for the pass, which allowed them to travel by train for free for one day.
TreinTramBus is calling for all passengers with valid season tickets for February and March to receive the pass, viewing it as a simpler alternative to the current compensation process.
Currently, passengers who experience significant disruptions due to the strikes can apply for compensation through SNCB/NMBS’s official channels, but Meukens criticised the complexity and administrative burden of the process.
“That is a lot of extra administration, and the burden is once again shifted to the traveler. Additionally, the rules are very complex,” he explained, citing the need for compensation only in the case of delays of 60 minutes or more.
TreinTramBus believes the compensation process should be more straightforward, calling for season ticket holders affected by strikes to have the option of extending the validity of their subscription by one day without the need for additional paperwork.
This adjustment would make it easier for travelers who are unable to use alternative timetables during strike days.
While Meukens expressed respect for the right to strike and sympathy for actions taken on general strike days, he stressed that the impact on commuters must be taken into account. “The impact on the traveller is disproportionate,” he said.
Looking ahead, the major railway unions are planning further strikes in April, with actions scheduled every Tuesday, consolidating efforts from multiple unions into fewer but longer strikes.
While Meukens welcomed the more unified approach, he called for a suspension of the strikes until negotiations yield results, urging both sides to reach a resolution without further disrupting commuters’ daily lives.
